Exercising with Heart Disease
There are millions of people that have heart disease, and millions who die from this each year. If they knew they had been exercising with heart disease many of them might still be alive. Many of these people are extremely obese and many look perfectly healthy! On the outside. I know I looked perfectly healthy! I have been pushing up my Aging Curve.
Many people said they were completely surprised that I needed open heart surgery on September 15, 2016. More about this in my blog, How To Exercise With Heart Disease.
Cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Canada and the United States. You can check this out at the Canadian Cancer Society and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.
They have many articles talking about risk factors and the most common ones are:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can be influenced by lifestyle. That means exercising with heart disease and nutrition are the keys. Where have you heard that before?
I believe that nutrition is a huge part of fitness, maybe as much as 75% of fitness. You can exercise all you want, but you will never exercise your way past a bad diet! Read about the other Components of Fitness.
Lucky to Be Alive
Lots of exercise has always been a part of my life. If it hadn’t I don’t think I would be here today. Smoking was a terrible habit for me from the age of 14 until I was 32 years old. I don't think I had high cholesterol, but I don't really know. So you can see I had two of the three risk factors, and maybe 3 of them. To top that off I was born with a slight heart murmur. As I write this down and re-read it, I have to think that I have been extremely lucky to get to 70 years of age.
I quit smoking a long time ago, 1983 to be exact. High blood pressure is an issue but I am getting it under control. Since undergoing open heart surgery 6 months ago, I was told I may need to be on drugs permanently. That is not acceptable to me so I am determined to find another way. When I do, I will have pushed back all three risk factors.
High Blood Pressure and Hypertension
My blood pressure has always been a bit on the high side but after my surgery it was very high. I never tracked my cholesterol because I have always been relatively fit and didn’t think I needed to track it. And I smoked from age 14 to 32!
Now it looks to me like a recipe for disaster. If I hadn't been exercising with heart disease, it may well have been a disaster.
If you are following the same recipe I did…it is time to change that recipe, before it is too late.
You must remember that high blood pressure is called hypertension. We are told it happens naturally as we age because our blood vessels lose some of their elasticity. If you live a lifestyle with little or no exercise, the rate at which they lose elasticity is increased. So, we are somewhat in charge of this.
Conclusion
Common activities that can increase the workload on your heart and lungs (the engine) are walking, running, biking, and swimming. Add wrestling with your grandchildren if you are lucky enough to have them. These are called cardiovascular exercises and doing them will strengthen your heart muscle.
If you increase your cardio ability you will lower your resting heart rate and lower your blood pressure. In my case I have taken my blood pressure before working out and recorded something like 143 /98. Then worked out and rested 5 minutes, and recorded 120/ 78. I have done this frequently over the last 6 months. My blood pressure is now almost always in the normal range.
Tracking it from my records allows me to compare trends. I am on two drugs for blood pressure. One to slow my heart rate and one to make my blood vessels more elastic.
By watching trends and continually increasing my aerobic capacity and my strength I am accountable to myself. I can help you do exactly the same thing. You can be accountable to me as your Personal On-Line Trainer.
Your Free copy of my introductory ebook (included with your V.I.P. registration) will help you get ready to change your life. The miracle of FITNESS can improve everything about your life. You can start exercising with heart disease!