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Congestive Heart Failure Exercise Guidelines

Adopting a regular regime of exercise following a bout of congestive heart failure can help keep you out of the emergency room in the future, allowing you to maximize your quality of life without fear of another cardiac incident.

  1. Congestive Heart Failure

    • Congestive heart failure is a condition whereby the heart is unable to provide sufficient amounts of blood to the remainder of the body. Heart disease usually does not occur overnight--pre-emptive warnings of congestive heart failure include the presence of hypertension or coronary artery disease. Symptoms of congestive heart failure include chronic cough, difficulty concentrating, overall fatigue and irregular pulse.

    Congestive Heart Failure and Exercise

    • According to an article published in the April 2001 edition of American Family Physician, although exercise used to be unrecommended for sufferers of congestive heart failure, that recommendation has changed over the years. If you have had a mild to moderate case of congestive heart failure, adopting a regular exercise plan may be just what the doctor ordered.

    Exercise Recommendations

    • According to the American Family Physician article, you should strive to adopt a gradual and progressive regime of training to enable you to return your body to peak physical condition. Accomplish this by starting light--taking a 15- to 20-minute walk at least three times a week is a good goal for beginners. As your endurance increases, attempt to increase your planned training to at least 30 minutes of moderately intense activity (brisk walking or light jogging) performed five days per week.

    Benefits

    • Adopting an exercise plan is directly linked to fewer future visits to the hospital along with an increased quality of life, according to the American Family Physician article. Regular exercise can also help keep your waistline slim, reducing your risk of developing other critical diseases such as cancer and diabetes. All in all, 30 minutes a day is a small investment to safeguard your future health.

    Considerations

    • Before adopting an exercise plan, consult with your doctor to get the green light to proceed. Keep him advised of any changes in your training regime, including alterations in duration or intensity. He can likely advise you on the safest course of action while steering you away from levels of training for which your body is currently unprepared. Also, remember that in addition to regular training, you should adopt a heart-healthy diet--low in saturated fats and rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

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