Exercise recommended for heart patients

This was published 15 years ago

Exercise recommended for heart patients

Most heart patients should aim for 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, such as water aerobics or "purposeful" walking, once doctors stabilise their condition, new Australian guidelines recommend.

The National Heart Foundation's physical activity recommendations for people with cardiovascular disease are outlined in the latest Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

Cardiologist Roger Allan, who chaired an expert working group which drew up the guidelines, said the evidence was clear that regular physical activity could significantly benefit people who had suffered a heart attack or undergone cardiac surgery in terms of survival and improved quality of life.

Benefits of regular physical activity include better functioning of the heart, decreased use of medication, improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and weight control.

Dr Allan said once doctors and patients were confident a person's cardiovascular condition had been stabilised, most people should aim, over time, to achieve half an hour or more of moderate physical activity on most, if not all, days.


This could include activity which increased the patient's depth and rate of breathing, while still allowing for comfortable talking such as "purposeful" walking, cycling for pleasure, gardening or cleaning the house.

"Walking to the shops, just doing the housework is a good example. Getting up, bending down, moving from one place to the other. All of those things are positive," Dr Allan said in an interview.

But intense exercise such as running a marathon were obviously not recommended.

Dr Allan said the amount and type of physical activity should be discussed with a person's doctor.

"The GP now has clear guidance in each of the various degrees of heart disease to be able to prescribe something that suits the patient," he said.

"It is well established that the benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity outweigh the risks.

"People with cardiovascular disease who are most likely to experience a recurrent event are those who are least physically active and those who are performing above the recommended dose."

The physical activity guidelines for the 3.2 million Australians with cardiovascular disease outline the types of patients who should not be active as well as the warning signs to watch out for when people should stop physical activity.

These include dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, uncharacteristic excessive sweating and palpitations associated with feeling unwell.

Dr Allan said patients with the greatest potential for health benefits were those who were least active previously.

Those wanting more information about the recommendations should consult their GP for advice, phone 1300 362 787 for a free heart foundation booklet or log onto www.heartfoundation.com.au.

The guidelines have been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Cardiac society of Australia and New Zealand.

They include recommendations for people with heart failure, implanted cardiac devices and those with congenital heart problems.

Dr Allan said research had shown regular physical activity also reduced a person's risk of bowel cancer, depression and anxiety.

"If you take a person that hasn't got a heart problem and you get them active, you will halve their risk of a cardiovascular event," he said.

"Inactivity is second only to smoking as the major risk factor for heart disease in Australia."

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