Hello colleagues,
I had triple bypass surgery in 2020 and have worked hard to get my fitness up. I am on lots of medications but otherwise test results are stable. I am 70 years old I enjoy walking but wanted to know how much to push myself? I can walk comfortably up to 6 miles and have occassionally done 9 miles but was very tired afterwards. I dont know how much is too much. I dont have breathing problems but I dont want to push myself over the edge. Any steer on this?
I think this is one of those 'we are all different' or 'there is no one size fits all' situations. Each and every one of us in our advancing years might be subject to musculo-skeletal disorders, respiratory problems, weight issues etc etc in addition to any cardio problems. So one person aged 70 might be restricted to pottering about at home and at the other extreme someone else running marathons. For what it's worth I am on the 'wrong' side of 75 and can still walk 6 miles and could go further but my knees tell me it's enough at that point. But overall I try to keep 'moving about' doing a variety of things including cycling, walking, gardening and physical work volunteering and that's good enough for me, but frankly some days are better than others.
My thoughts exactly!
I agree with lowerfield...we are all different. I feel lucky to be up and about and doing up to 2 mileswalking most days at 86 plus seated boxing,zumba and ballet for over 60s on some days every week.so far no breathlessness but a lot of afib esp. in the morning .Do what you can for as long as you can.
Lowerfield sums up the situation very well.
Since my TAVI in July 2023 I've measured my fitness by "hours walked". I don't - yet - stop for rests, eating a little every hour, so perhaps 2.5mph might be a reasonable claim. A week before my op, aged 77, I did a six-hour walk and the day after it I accumulated 80 minutes around the hospital in half-a-dozen stages - but very cautiously and slower than 2.5mph!
Since then, my energy levels have fluctuated. One day I had to drive, rather than walk, about 1,200 yards to post a parcel, on others I've done four hours on various occasions, and last Sunday it was six. My red blood cells and haematocrit are very borderline, suggesting that my delivery of oxygen is not great.
But I have trouble doing more than a couple of hours of light gardening. I used to do voluntary environmental work, but this is now beyond me - there are several people in their eighties still doing so. Indeed one task leader had a triple bypass in 2019 aged 76 and returned to work surprisingly quickly. We were concerned that halfway through a task of 4.5 hours (including two breaks) he would have to lie down for a rest but now he's fully fit - to my envy!
Thankyou. Helps to understand.
Yes, I totally agree with the comments that have been made....we are all different. I had my triple bypass in 2018 which I found knocked me back to zero. It was almost like my battery had been discharged. This was a big shock to me as I had been enjoying walking the hills and mountains in Scotland before undergoing the surgery.
I was determined to get back to where I was before the op and hopeful that I might be able to go beyond that. Bit by bit I worked at extending my walks. At 8 weeks post-op I tested myself and walked non-stop for 3 hours covering 10.4 miles. Since then I have taken the occasional longer walk up to a distance of 17 miles. Usually my walks are 4 to 5 miles as I am always aware there are jobs to do and taking much more than an hour or so out of the day leaves less time for doing them. Then there is always the need for quality relaxation time each day.
I would say go with what you are happy with. Don't worry about distance or time. I am now 73 and I know I can walk further than the majority of people my age. However, there are people of my age who are built differently to me that make my efforts look puny. I am just pleased that I can manage a few Munros each year. I know people half my age who would not be capable of doing what I do.
Continue to enjoy your walks. If you can, get out into areas outside your usual area. A change of scenery gives a great mental boost. Take time to stop a minute to take in the views and get closer to nature. We live in a lovely part of the world, so take what it offers.
With my very best wishes,
Gerald
Thankyou so much for the encouraging words. I shall.
I’m 71, not had a bypass but have four stents after a HA.
I aim, and mostly achieve, 28 miles a week - an average 4 miles a day. As everyone else has said, we’re all different, but it seems to me you’re doing exceptionally well.
I was given a chart from my physio team it’s called the Borg scale its used to gauge your breathing.
It’s used on a beep test which I’ve just taken my second and they assess from the results your fitness, for instance out of 10 I scored 7 which they were happy with with I’m 10 weeks post op CABG x 3 and valve repair.
They told me that to score above 7 is extremely difficult as you literally have to break into a run.
However the chart is available and may help you assess your own fitness and it tells you where you should be on the scale which is between 12 and 14 below your not exerting yourself enough and above your pushing too hard.
Part of test is getting yourself into that zone and being able recite your name, address mobile number with gasping for breath and blowing.
Hope this helps.
not heard of that. very interesting, thanks
That's very helpful. Thanks. I shall look it up.
looks like you are doing extremely well. not many people walk that kinda distance so well done.
Thanks. The encouragement helps.
Continue walking as much as is comfortable to you. Do not overdo it.
Do what you feel comfortable withI had CA nearly 7yrs agoI'm 70 in July and play golf 2 or 3 times a week. After sometimes I'm really ok and others I'm really tired
Just do what you're happy with
Good luck
Great to hear from all the walkers here, I have just got back from my thrice weekly 3-mile walk from the shops, I'm 77 and have always worked out, walking and weights etc.
All walking is good for you, but some is better than others.
As I understand it, a brisk (just below jogging speed) walk for 15-20 minutes is better for your cardio vasc system than a much longer walk at normal pace, useful to know if you are time limited, but the important thing is all exercise is good for you!
Good luck
I’m a ‘quad bypasser’ since 2022. Congrats on your fitness efforts - the best medicine IMO. Chronological age doesn’t really help when it comes to exercise as we all have our own ‘fitness age’. Take 10 people aged 70 and they will all be different. It comes down to whether you’re looking to improve or maintain your fitness. Two things influence this -how much you exercise and how hard, plus adequate rest and recovery ( often neglected!).
Current advice for how much is 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, e.g. 30 mins x 5. To track how hard, a simple measure is ‘perceived exertion’ on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is all-out effort. Moderate is about a 5-6 on the scale. This is a good way to check if you’re overdoing it. Also, it’s a good idea to keep a recovery diary where you can keep an eye on how tired you are and adjust your rest/activity accordingly.
And finally, it’s a bit of a paradox, but improving your muscle strength with resistance exercises such as squats, lunges, etc., will really help your walking. Sorry for the long post, but it’s a big subject! Hope this helps and all the best.
Thanks very helpful
How long is a piece of string? If you can do it, fantastic. I can't even walk across my garden now or round a shop but that's my spine not heart. There is no standard. My husband turns 80 tomorrow and does several miles every day.
I'm 78 and have lost a lot of strength in my legs I'm walking 20 minutes a day going up to 30 but legs feel wobbly today.You are doing brilliant
Thankyou. Encouragement helps
Just to add to my post above, about my walks of several hours. Today I planned a route that I thought might take me four hours, though it ended up as six. Allow 40 minutes for chats with dog-owners, buying two or three items in a village shop and some minor diversions, but even so ... However, the main problem was getting over two stiles, including one where the bottom step was missing; luckily each had a solid six-foot post to which I clung with one hand, using the other to drag a trailing foot over the top - with the first one it took four tries to finally succeed. More a problem of general ageing, rather than anything to do with my heart.
Not today, but there've been three occasions in the past year when I've realised there's thinned blood trickling down my hand from tiny cuts from thorns and the like that I hadn't noticed. I now carry a spray plaster.
Something else I've noticed post-TAVI is that I'm dehydrated after a walk. At least I don't have to get up in the night, but I am increasing my water intake when out.
One plus is that after a walk my blood pressure is significantly reduced for several hours.
I'm 72, 2xPCI, CABG and AVR in June '23 at 70. I'm fitter now than I was 15 years ago.
I've done a bit over 6 miles today, a three mile parkrun in the morning (under 40 minutes for that, it was my 61st and fastest to date) and then something over 3 miles walking during the rest of the day. I feel great, not tired (unlike some days when I do less), just my feet ache. No issues at all, no breathlessness or anything like that. Mind you we all are different so we have to tailor what we do to what we are able to do.
Not looking forward to the morning, alarm at 5:15 for an event we're going to which will be all day. We expect to get home about 19:00, I'll probably be tired then ...
I had a quadruple by pass 11 weeks ago. Like you I have been building up my fitness. On a single walk I have completed 3.5 miles without any strain or duress. I am currently doing a Cardio Physio course where the emphaasis appears to be getting the heart rate up for a short period of time. So now I do 2 x 2.2 miles a day but push myself so that I get the heart rate up as opposed to a longer walk where the heart is fairly even over a longer period of time. Hope this helps and good luck!
I think you’re spot on about the importance of getting the heart rate up, not just distance alone. It’s great that you’re doing a Cardio Physio course, sounds like a really smart and structured way to rebuild your strength. I like the idea of shorter, more intentional walks with effort built in. Gives me something to think about as I work on my own routine. Wishing you continued progress and steady recovery!
Good advise I have been told the same thing but I usually walk on my own so have been too lacking in confidence to push the heart rate up. But must try.
My opinion is after proper health checks with your GP, your body should be able to tell you if you are doing too much. Too little is a bit tricky. I am currently in hospital recovering from aortic valve replacement. About 20 years ago before I had my diagnosis, besides high blood pressure, at the end of a 2 mile jog, my chest seemed to be divided into 2 painful parts! I was in my early 40s but decided that was the last time I did anything strenuous. I had no idea I was going to develop heart conditions. Listen to your body.
How hard to exercise 2 years on from heart attack
Exercise as a Trigger for AF or increased meds?
how can your other half or partner cope.
Don’t run before you can walk.
Does small scar indicate an op without bypass
