Exercise is well-known for improving heart health, but can it help people living with heart failure?
The answer is yes!
Even for those at higher risk, exercise can be safe and beneficial when done properly.
It can improve quality of life, reduce hospital visits, and even strengthen the heart over time.
Here’s what you need to know about exercising with heart failure, including the best exercises and how to stay safe.
Is exercise safe for people with heart failure?
Yes, exercise is safe for heart failure patients when done under medical supervision. Studies show that regular, moderate exercise can lower hospitalizations and improve overall well-being.
In fact, even patients with severe heart conditions, like ischemic cardiomyopathy with ejection fractions below 25% (when the heart pumps less than half its normal capacity), have seen benefits from supervised exercise.
Dr. Melissa Tracy, a cardiologist and cardiac rehabilitation specialist, recommends that heart failure patients aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, she emphasizes starting slowly to avoid overworking the heart.
Best exercises for heart failure patients
The best exercises depend on your health and fitness level. Here are some safe options for people with heart failure:
- Brisk Walking
Walking is an excellent low-impact exercise. Using a walking stick can improve stability and help engage your arms. - Cycling on Flat Terrain
Cycling is great for heart health, but avoid steep hills or uneven paths that could strain your heart. - Swimming and Water Aerobics
Water exercises are gentle on joints and provide resistance to build strength. Activities like swimming or using a kickboard can improve breathing and muscle tone. - Traditional Chinese Exercises
Practices like Tai Chi and Baduanjin combine gentle movements with mindful breathing, improving balance and heart rate without high impact. - Chair Exercises
For those with limited mobility, seated exercises like knee raises or arm lifts can elevate the heart rate and build strength.
How to get started safely
Heart failure patients need to ease into exercise. Starting too hard can strain the heart. Here are some tips to ensure a safe routine:
- Consult Your Doctor
Always talk to your cardiologist or physical therapist before starting a new exercise program. They can guide you on safe heart rate levels and exertion limits. - Monitor Your Exertion
A helpful tool is the Borg scale, which measures how hard you feel you’re working. Start at a level 2 or 3, where you feel warm but can still talk comfortably. As you progress, you can increase to level 5 to 7, where you break a sweat but don’t experience chest pain or palpitations. - Avoid Extreme Weather
Exercising in very hot or cold conditions can strain your body. If you’re outdoors, choose early morning or evening hours during hot weather and limit cold-weather activities to 30 minutes. - Start Small and Build Gradually
If you’re returning to an activity like running, begin with walking and gradually increase intensity.
What to avoid
Some activities can worsen heart failure. Avoid:
- Exercising in extreme temperatures
- Strenuous activities like running or mountain biking if you’re just starting out
- Exercising without consulting your doctor
These precautions help prevent overexertion and reduce the risk of injury or adverse effects.
How exercise helps the heart and body
While exercise alone may not completely reverse heart failure, it can significantly improve heart function when combined with other treatments. For some patients, regular exercise can help the heart pump more effectively and relax stiff heart muscles.
It also builds skeletal muscle, which many heart failure patients lose due to inactivity. Stronger muscles improve mobility, balance, and independence, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
Exercise benefits emotional health, too. Many patients report feeling less stressed and more positive after adding exercise to their routines. “Exercise is a gift you give yourself,” Dr. Tracy says. “It improves your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.”
Exercise combined with medical therapy can extend life and reduce hospital visits. Even older patients with long-term heart failure see significant improvements in their health and quality of life.
Regular exercise is a powerful tool for heart failure patients. By starting slowly, choosing the right activities, and working closely with healthcare providers, patients can safely strengthen their hearts and improve their lives—one step at a time.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how vitamin D influences cholesterol levels, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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