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Cardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise Safety
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise SafetyExercise is a large part of any cardiac rehabilitation program. But you may have had a heart event or are living with aheart condition. Believe it or not, physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your heart as you recover.The key is to exercise safely to benefit your heart and reduce your risk of complications.When you begin cardiac rehabilitation your healthcare provider will give you an exercise prescription which usuallyincludes a target heart rate; the number of times your heart should be beating per minute while you exercise.During a cardiac rehab exercise session, you may be connected to a heart monitor so that the staff can keep track ofyour heart’s activity level at all times and make sure you are exercising within range of your target heart rate. Youmay also be taught to monitor your own heart rate and to keep a record of your results. You do this by taking yourpulse.To take your pulse, place your index finger and middle finger on one side of your neck, beside your windpipe, or onthe thumb side of your wrist about 2 inches toward the middle of your arm. Once you feel your pulse, count thebeats for 15 seconds. Multiply that number by 4 to get your heart beats per minute.If you are exercising above your target heart rate, slow down. If you are working below your target heart rate,gradually increase the intensity of your exercise to give your heart a beneficial workout.Another method to tell how hard you are working is to rate your perceived exertion. To do this, take a look at aperceived exertion chart and decide how hard you feel you are exercising. If you’re in the light part of the chart,you’re probably exercising below your target heart rate. If you’re in the somewhat hard part of the chart, you’reprobably exercising in your target range. And if you’re in the very hard part of the chart, you’re probably above yourtarget heart rate and should slow down. One quick way to check the intensity of your workout is by talking. If youcan’t talk at all, it’s time to slow down.If you have any questions about your target heart rate or the level you are exercising at, ask your cardiac care team.They’re there to help. Talk with them about exercises you can do safely on your own, and how to do them, so youcan continue to exercise outside of your cardiac rehab sessions.When beginning any aerobic exercise, make sure to start gradually. Give your heart and your body a chance to warmup by gradually increasing your heart rate. Try cycling or light walking. And after your exercise session, take the timeto cool down. Slow your pace and let your heart rate come down gradually. Do some stretches to reduce musclesoreness.Most cardiac rehab programs will also include weight training or resistance training. Not everyone should liftweights. Make sure you talk to your cardiac care team about how to add resistance training to your exercise routine,Page 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ha_10246_96_en_t00002.pdf© The Wellness NetworkCardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise Safetysafely.Always avoid exercising outdoors in extreme temperatures or high humidity. Have a plan B. If it is hot or coldoutside do something indoors to keep you moving.If at any point during any type of exercise you feel chest pain, stop what you are doing immediately and tell amember of your cardiac rehab team even if it goes away. If the pain doesn’t stop, call 911. You should not feelpain during exercise. And not just chest pain, any pain. Your cardiac rehab team can make changes to yourexercise prescription to make sure you are not in pain while you exercise.In the first days and weeks following a heart event or diagnosis, you may feel anxious about any movement, letalone exercise. But with the help of your cardiac rehab team you can learn how to exercise safely for the longterm health of your heart.Page 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ha_10246_96_en_t00002.pdf© The Wellness Network
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