Jogging with EF of 43%. Anyone doing it?

[Penoir53]

just wondering if there are any novice joggers out there with heart damage /failure with EF c 43%? I’m on Entresto which has had the result of a bigger horizon exercise wise. X

[HenryTudor]

Yes, I have HF. Big HA 2½ years ago. It’s a personal thing but I hate jogging. I’ve never seen a jogger smiling.

I walk, a lot. I do up to 90 minutes every day, which means I cover ±30 miles a week. You can change your pace according to how fit/well you’re feeling on any particular day. If you want to up your pace don’t swing straight arms but bend your elbows.

I might add that it taken me a couple of years to get up to this level. I started (using an Apple Watch) with a target of 40 minutes a day.

I’m on the usual cocktail of meds, including Entresto.

[devonian186 in reply to HenryTudor]

Can I agree with Henry. MY last test i had 43% but that was 6 weeks after my op. I have never seen the attraction of jogging and it seems to become an obsession, judging by some of the characters you see looking miserable in hot sun or drenched to the bone and they all seem to need special equipment.

I walk every day and try to do 10000 steps although the aim is to do at least 70000 a week so if you fall short one day its not the end of the World.

I use hiking poles which means you swing your arms and shoulders more and walk faster so its considered quite a good workout, especially if you try to include some slopes. If its raining its easy to put on appropriate clothes which would look very out of place on a jogger!

However, we are all different and each to their own, so if you prefer to jog that is entirely up to you but just wanted to point out there was a viable alternative.

[Identiy in reply to devonian186]

Played international rugby with an EF of 52% when everyone had to play for 80 minutes. Was one of the fittest.

[Penoir53 in reply to HenryTudor]

Thankyou. V good picture of you being great! I am pretty sure my Consultant would say do more of the same too. In fact he has previously. I wonder if HF makes you want things you never had like …going up a mountain. Cycling on an electric bike in little bouts seems a good idea as a change. That is preapproved. X

[HenryTudor in reply to Penoir53]

Yes, it does make you want to do things, but I’ve found you have to work up to it. I’ve had a couple of bouts of flu, or possibly C19 variants, that have set me back. But I get back on the horse as quickly as I can. I have an exercise bike, weights and step for when it’s just impossible to go out (in other words, pishing down).

But there’s no substitute to being outdoors. I listen to podcasts - history, politics and current affairs.

[Penoir53 in reply to HenryTudor]

Thankyou. Strength is as important as we trot on age wise. We have dogs so love outside too. Thankyou for taking the time. X

[HenryTudor in reply to HenryTudor]

That should be 4½ years ago!

[Anothernewbie in reply to HenryTudor]

A comment for HenryTudor and devonian186

Regarding joggers, my husband always used to say that when he saw a smiling jogger he would join them!

[HenryTudor in reply to Anothernewbie]

Knees too. The only time you'll encounter more people with knee problems (and knee replacements) is at a Parachute Regiment reunion.

[devonian186]

Yes, this diagnosis of "heart Failure" is not very helpful. You also don't need maximum EF to function well, as your case demonstrates.

Its easy to think life is going to be much diminished but medication, diet, exercise and weight control can mean many can live a pretty normal life, but I suspect there is also a mental toughness you need to develop following a cardiac event,. Many become very anxious as we see displayed every day on this board.

[Penoir53 in reply to devonian186]

Thankyou. I thought Id replied but not appearing so perhaps I sd focus on my technical skills too. 😂 going to try my electric bike again as pre approved. In fact Consultant recommended anything with assist. Thankyou. V helpful. X

[devonian186 in reply to Penoir53]

Electric bikes are great. What you need, if some of the locals are anything to go, by is one of those very heavy electric bikes with fat tyres then you can cycle madly along the pavement and through the middle of the shopping precinct scattering pedestrians at 30mph!

[Penoir53 in reply to devonian186]

Oh no. We have some of those too. I’m very conservative and always stop and get off if I see anyone. I’m a good girl. X

[dg2024]

The heart needs a rest in order to recover. You need clear guidance from your doctor rather than a chat group or myself. Caveat aside, I would be cautious. Stressing the heart not under medical supervision is questionable. My cardiologist told me light jogging was OK when my ef was mid 40s. I stopped doing sport for 3 months which was not easy for a lifelong sportsman. Be careful!

[HenryTudor in reply to dg2024]

Quite right. I did the cardiac rehab course and for me the most important thing that came from it is the target maximum heart rate, because it’s based on your age, medication and personal factors. For example, my maximum is 111 bpm and I rarely exceed this.

[Penoir53 in reply to dg2024]

Thankyou. I lost my reply to this but kind of good to know I’m not the only one NOT jogging. Going to refocus on what I know is possible rather than dream of climbing Everest. Entresto is q a good drug in allowing a bit of hope. Big hugs x

[Penoir53]

ps I’m 15 years in so am so v lucky to have what I have. Big hugs xx

[suzeincenac]

On Entresto, Bisoprolol etc. following heart damage due to anti-cancer drug Herceptin. Not jogging nor even walking much because, at 66, I have arthritis, back and foot problems. However I swim a kilometer a day with 38% EF. I think what matters is finding exercise you enjoy and doing it regularly.

[Penoir53]

Thankyou so much and glad to see you’ve found your exercise preference. X

[Penoir53]

ps mine was from good old chemo prior to Herceptin which revealed it. But 15 years ago so not complaining (much) x

[BicuspidBloke]

Yep, I was jogging every weekend up until 5 days before my op. My EF at diagnosis (five months prior) was 30%. The estimation had dropped to 20-25% by the time of the op. It was slow but definitely helped recovery by staying fit.

[Penoir53 in reply to BicuspidBloke]

Thankyou. That’s really interesting. I’m getting my wee dog to run a bit (10 of my steps tbh) as he loves it but will prob start electric biking (not with dog obviously) and see how I go. Glad you are doing well. X

[Snowflake01]

Agreeing with the sentiment that jogging might not be for everyone, maybe this link that I've found is useful on a range of exercises:

acpicr.com/publications/pat...

[Penoir53]

Thankyou x

[Jackiesmith7777]

My husbands was 33% last year so I’m hoping it will be alot better with his next echo this year .

[Penoir53]

sending love. Hoping so too. They can vary even after a virus , but it’s nice to see the drugs making a difference. Ive been there too and although my Cardio says ‘Stable. No worse’ is absolutely ok too providing our quality of life is acceptable to enjoyable I liked it better when it would creep upwards. X