Women's Healthy Aging

Suffering from a heart attack can be a life-changing experience. It affects your diet, exercise routine, and general outlook on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. After experiencing a heart attack, some may be hesitant to jump right back into exercising for fear that they may overdo it or the extra strain on the heart may cause another one. However, a Swiss study found that aerobic exercise and resistance training both had positive effects on blood vessel function in heart attack survivors.

WebMD reports that the 209 heart attack survivors that participated in the study were split into four groups based on the type of exercise administered: aerobic exercise, resistance training, a combination of both, and a sedentary control group. At the end of the four week study, patients in the exercise groups all showed improvement in the functionality of their blood vessels, which affects heart rate and blood pressure.

This study did not find one type of exercise to be more beneficial over another in terms of blood vessel contraction and relaxation; all had similar improvements. In general, the most complete fitness routines include both cardiovascular and strength training, which has now been proven effective for post-heart attack exercisers as well. Always be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine and find out if you have any limitations, particularly concerning cardiovascular exercise if you have had a heart attack. As a general workout rule, do what you enjoy and perform a variety of activities to keep you motivated. If you are a heart attack survivor, don’t let your experience interfere with your workout routine or prevent you from starting a new one. Now, more than ever, exercise should be a part of your lifestyle in an attempt to make it as healthy and enjoyable as possible.

For more information, click HERE to read WebMD’s complete article.

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