Exercise can be enjoyed by people of all ages, including heart failure patients. Even short periods of bed rest can weaken the body. Exercise is a great way to strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system since aerobic exercise trains the heart to beat more efficiently. With training, the heart pumps out more blood per beat and the heart rate decreases.

You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine. He or she may suggest that you avoid certain activities, or that you have a stress test before you begin an exercise program. To chart your progress, as well as track your cardiac condition, it is important to maintain a daily weight chart.

Recommended Activities
Activities to try include walking. Cycling and swimming can be considered if you are already physically active. Start slow and increase the length or intensity of your activity as you feel up to it. Listen to your body and stop exercising if you experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, or a cold sweat. Be sure to give your body rest days to recharge from exercising.

Some Useful Exercise Tips

Warm up with stretching exercises before you begin exercising  Exercise with a buddy  Choose exercises you enjoy  Avoid exercises that require quick bursts of energy  Avoid exercises that cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness  Don't exercise if you have not eaten for a long time; try to plan your exercise time 1-2 hours after a light meal  Avoid exercising in extreme heat or cold  Monitor your pulse and perceived level of exertion  Exercise at the level recommended by your exercise physiologist, doctor or nurse