Exercise Helps Heart Attack Patients

Surveys show that most patients who suffer or have had heart failure are over 70 years old. Many can walk only a few steps without stopping. Doctors think even those patients can benefit from light exercise, including walking, cycling or weight training.

The following was gleaned from research and obtained from personal experience:

After your doctor has evaluated you to ascertain your level of physical fitness, to determine determine that your limits aren't exceeded, it's generally recommended that you undertake an exercise regimen that's supervised by a health professional. It's not recommended that patients with acute heart disease follow an exercise program.

Those capable of actively participating in an exercise program didn't get into the spiral of deterioration experienced by those who didn't exercise. Cardiovascular fitness was increased if the limits were known and not exceeded. Being slightly out of breath and mildly tired afterwards was desirable, according to the reports issued at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna, Austria.

It was reported that people who had experienced heart failure recovered quicker and more completely if they exercised to a state of breathlessness at least once per day.

It was found that physical activity sends up to ten times the normal amount of blood to the muscles being used, increasing the heart's capacity and the strength of heart contractions.

Stem cells produced in the bone marrow relieve stress and may repair the heart's damaged parts. Continuing to exercise creates more stem cells that help build new blood vessels and strengthen muscles, helping the body to adapt to higher levels of stress. You must exercise regularly in order to continue the cycle of repair, replacement and strengthening.

There are no drugs that can produce new stem cells and, other than stem cell replacements, exercise appears to be the only method for some patients to rebuild their hearts.