8 Best Workout Routines for Cardiac Patients
Exercising after a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest is a tricky affair because the heart is a fragile organ. The trouble doubles if you do not understand the dos and don’ts because a slight mistake can threaten to risk your health once more.

While it’s totally fine to exercise after a heart attack, you must follow some best practices to avoid overworking yourself.

Also, it’s advisable to let your physician help you identify the best workout routines for cardiac patients.

Factors like the cause of the heart attack, frequency of attacks, pre-existing medical conditions, and the type of prescriptions you take may determine how soon you can resume or start exercising.

So what are some safety precautions to consider when working out after a heart attack? Which exercises are safe for your cardiac? What are some red flags to watch out for while exercising?


Best Workout Routines for Cardiac Patients: What are the Safety Considerations?
Unless you attend cardiac rehab, you’ll almost certainly be ready for mild exercises. However, it’s crucial to seek your doctor’s go-ahead to avoid plunging into grave mistakes.

The vigorousness and amount of exercise for you depend on factors like:

  • Your activity levels pre-cardiac arrest or heart attack,
  • the severity of the attack
  • Your medical history, etc.

Many other factors come into play so it’s important to follow your physician’s advice. Also, you want to work out with buddies to ensure an immediate emergency response, i.e., CPR first aid if suffer an attack.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), it is helpful to begin exercising soon after a cardiac event to recover your strength and energy.

Furthermore, you can try both aerobic exercises or strength training as they all have a positive effect on cardiac health.

However, you want to start slow then get more vigorous with time. If possible, ask your physician to recommend the right types of exercises.

Below are some safety guidelines according to the National Institue of Health.
●      Start small, take a walk.
Walking is one of the best workout routines for cardiac patients. Though walking is less strenuous, it has far-reaching benefits on the heart.
●      Exercise on flat ground.
Begin exercising on level grounds that pose fewer problems before advancing to challenging places like staircases and hills.
●      Advance carefully.
Start with mild exercises and then proceed to more vigorous exercises. For instance, you can start taking walks, and then proceed to jogs after a month or so. After taking on these exercises comfortably, you can proceed to strength training.
●      Warm up pre-workout and finish with stretches.
Walk slowly as you begin and conclude your workout session. Also, be sure to warm up soon after finishing your routine.
●      Keep off vigorous cardio exercises and heavy lifting.
If you notice that you are straining when taking on vigorous exercises then it’s time to slow down a little. Though strength exercises are good for heart health, wait until your physician gives a go-ahead.
●      Avoid extreme weather.
Keep off extreme weather conditions or work out under your roof.

Lastly, explore your potential after 6 weeks. Before proceeding to more intense exercises, discuss with your physician if it’s okay to do so.
What are the Red flags for Cardiac Events When Exercising
If not implemented carefully, some of the best workout routines for cardiac patients can trigger an episode.

To ensure workout safety after a cardiac event, it’s important to monitor your wellbeing. Take a break from physical exercises and contact your physician if you experience any cardiac-related symptoms, including:

  • Pain or heaviness in the chest.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • An extremely fast heart rate.
  • Pressure in the neck, arm, or jaw.
  • Extreme shortness of breath.
  • A numb feeling in the arm.
  • Extreme tiredness after a workout.

Also, remember to monitor your body’s reaction to the physical routines before incorporating them into your everyday routine.

Red flags like chest complications (angina) demand immediate attention and must be discussed with the physician immediately.

Also, stop working and reach out to a doctor if symptoms:

  • Extend longer than usual
  • Occur time and again
  • Manifest when you’re not training, or
  • Persist even after medication.

These could be warning signs that the heart condition is worsening.

In the absence of heart-related symptoms during workout sessions proceeding a cardiac event, the American Heart Association recommends continuing with exercises.

Always spare half an hour per day, 5 days a week to preserve your cardiac health, more so after recovering from a heart-related event.
The Best Workout Routines for Cardiac Patients
So what are some of the best exercises for cardiac patients?
1.     Stroll around
Walking is so far the best form of training after suffering a cardiac-related episode. It is an easy physical routine that anyone can handle after recovering from a critical condition.

Still, it’s advisable to go slow if you choose this approach. Start by walking short distances around your yard for 5-10 minutes before proceeding to 30-minute walks.

Also, you can walk in the company of friends who understand your condition.  This kind of teamwork also ensures a timely response if any symptoms arise during sessions.
2.     Dance your heart away!
Dancing is fun and healthy! Such routines are easier to stick to because you achieve more for less.

Routines like salsa, two-step dancing, and swinging can be executed at home through training videos or through dance classes.

Still, you want to start slow and allow your heart to recover before advancing to thorough sessions lasting half an hour or longer.

Besides registering for exclusive dance classes, you can opt for music-inspired sessions like Zumba or aerobics.
3.     Jog or run if you can
If you prefer jogging or running before an attack, it’s still okay to do so even after an episode. However, you want to consult a physician before embarking on vigorous jogging or running exercises.

Often, doctors advise patients to start slow and build up slowly. Do not stress your heart with intensive exercises as this may trigger another episode.

Avoid sprinting or jogging long distances because such exercises can strain your cardiac.

Lastly, run or jog along with workout buddies to guarantee immediate emergency care, i.e., CPR first aid if your condition worsens during physical exercise.
4.     Dive into a pool
It’s totally fine to dive into your pool after a cardiac arrest. It is one of the best workout routines for cardiac patients. Swimming is particularly important because it helps your body maintain optimal temperature throughout the routine.

Extreme heat can increase a victim’s blood pressure and overwork their heart and arteries.

Doctors will advise you to keep off running or jogging in the sun when it’s too hot. , Instead, they recommend swimming as the perfect replacement.

As with other routines, start small and proceed to 30-minutes of swimming 4 – 5 times per week.
5.     Ride a bicycle or cycle indoors
Cycling is one of the best workouts after a heart attack. You can cycle indoors using a workout machine or go outdoors with a couple of buddies.

If you prefer cycling outdoors, remember to check the weather before leaving your home for a workout. Extremely hot or cold conditions can compromise your cardiac health and maybe even trigger an episode.

Also, for hassle-free biking, start with modern easy-to-ride bicycles before proceeding to old-school versions.
6.    Row a boat or workout machine
Don’t rule out rowing exercises just because you fear or can’t have access to a water body. You can use the machine in your gym and still achieve the same result.

Like most of the routines discussed above, rowing can help restore your cardiac health without putting you at the risk of an episode.

However, it’s not advisable to go rowing alone in a water body. If possible, join a club or go with buddies to ensure total safety.
7.     Aerobics does it too!
Aerobics is effective in restoring the heart because it improves blood flow throughout the body, and reduces blood pressure. There are different types of aerobic classes including aqua aerobics (which involves working out in the water) and step aerobics.

In essence, aerobic is a less strenuous way to help your heart recover from a cardiac event because it involves simple exercises. Most of these exercises involve moving, your arms, feet, and other vital body parts.
8.     Try gentle yoga
You might want to try yoga because it does more than heal your body and preserve your heart health.It also reduces blood pressure, encourages relaxation, and heals the mind and soul.

Yoga is also an excellent cardiac recovery routine because you achieve plenty yet most of the exercises involve just moving your body parts while maintaining your position.

You can also choose to do this indoors with a training video or enroll in a yoga class to enjoy exercising with working buddies.

However, having suffered a heart attack just recently, be careful to start with gentle yoga sessions. After 6 weeks or so, ask your doctor if you can proceed to intense types like hot yoga or power yoga.

Final Words on the Best Workout Routines for Cardiac Patients

Because the heart is a delicate organ, and some conditions are chronic, you want to be cautious before committing to a routine. Always discuss the best workout routines for cardiac patients with your doctor to avoid situations that may compromise your heart health.

Also, remember to begin with mild exercises before proceeding to vigorous workout programs as these could trigger other episodes.

Lastly, it’s advisable to team up with workout buddies to ensure immediate CPR first aid if you suffer an attack during training sessions.