Schuberttrout

[Schuberttrout]

How much exercise is it safe to do with heart failure

[Yumz199725]

Depends on what symptoms your getting with your heart failure, has your cardiologist told you what exercise and how much is ok? Maybe contact your consultant and see if they can advise on what's safe. I had to contact my consultant for peace of mind when I was gona join a gym so I was worried what and if exercise was safe and they assured me that it was fine to join but to not life any weights of any kind and to just do exercise bike and treadmill. Hope you can get some answers from your cardiologist x

[Schuberttrout in reply to Yumz199725]

Thank you

[Shuaholic in reply to Schuberttrout]

As Yumz199725 said above, ask your doctor or heart clinic professionals, it will also depend on what your fitness was before diagnosis. I was told to keep running but listen to my own body, if you are tiring then rest don’t push it. I am back up to running 25 miles a week, have done several half marathons, albeit more slowly and banks are definitely a far bigger challenge than before. Good luck and stay safe. X

[Schuberttrout in reply to Shuaholic]

Thank you

[Pouchielou1972 in reply to Schuberttrout]

I was diagnosed with severe heart failure with an extrelow EF of 10%. I attended cardiac rehab which really helped show me what my body could do with heart failure. They had ms doing cardio and light weights and said I could increase all exercise as my condition improved. They actually got me running in rehab as I was more than capable. It's all dependent in your symptoms as to what you can do. As they improve, you can add a bit more. I'm bow back in the gym weight training, but being mindful that my heart condition means I just have to lift weights a bit lighter than before so as to not put too much pressure on my heart and make it work too hard and I also adapt certain exercises I used to do for this reason.

[fixedrider]

As others have said, varies too much to answer, ask your medical professionals. I had a double bypass four years ago and made a good recovery. The consultant who discharged me was happy for me to push it, and so I've done RideLondon (100 miles) and a bit of bike racing at no serious standard, i.e. back to the kind of thing I'd done before. I don't do "intervals" or exercises designed to push your heart to the limit in short-term "sprints", but then I never have.

[Schuberttrout in reply to fixedrider]

Thank you

[pauljusa]

I think that the previous replies have covered it particularly regarding talking with a medical professional first. I developed HF due to a surgical procedure 6 years ago, it affects blood flow but my EF is 44% - not too bad. Until then I was keen runner and exercised daily when possible. Now at 72 I'm retired and have the time to exercise a couple of hours a day - weights & walking. biking, basically because I enjoy it. I got my doctor's OK, so I was good to go.

Very best wishes -

This video is a good overview:

youtube.com/watch?v=StqHKJh...(Not working as expected?)

[Schuberttrout in reply to pauljusa]

Thank you

[Keder]

Dear Schuberttrout

You haven't told us to what extent your heart has failed. My last measured ejection fraction was 15%. I'm male, 73 years old with an aversion to gyms - last time was in the army 50 years ago.

I had the damaging second heart attack just before Christmas 2022. To start off with I was too frightened to get out of my chair although my Community Heart Failure nurse advised gentle walking and a bit of pottering in the garden. Also I used a stick as my balance was bad.

Now I'm more confident and able to carry full watering cans and walk a few hundred yards at a time, always remembering not to go too far as the return walk can be taxing. I don't do long hills: the climb into my loft is enough.

Gardening and playing the piano help to stave off the blues.

Hope that helps

Keder

[Schuberttrout in reply to Keder]

Thank you