Exercise and Angina

The heart is a muscle and it needs to be exercised to keep it strong.  The more unfit you become, the more your angina can affect you and so people with angina are advised to exercise regularly, within the limitations of their angina.

 The benefits of regular exercise for angina:

• It increases exercise capacity – the more you do, the more you are able to do.
• It strengthens your heart.
• It reduces the frequency and severity of angina.               
• It reduces anxiety and depression.
• It reduces tension, encourages relaxation and sleep.
• It gives you a sense of well being and confidence.
• It helps to control cholesterol.
• It helps you to lose weight.
• It helps to lower high blood pressure.
• It keeps you supple and more mobile.
• It strengthens muscles, joints and bones.

Choosing your exercise

• Choose and exercise that keeps you moving and makes you breathe in more air (dynamic and aerobic exercise) e.g. swimming, walking, dancing or similar
• Choose an activity near to home.
• Do some form of activity every day as part of your routine.

Tips on exercising

• Spend five to ten minutes warming up gently, ready to exercise.
• Spend five to ten minutes cooling down after exercise.
• You are aiming to gradually increase what you do in small stages.
• Remember it is not a competition.
• Remember that you are in control.
• Avoid rushing and holding your breath.
  

 

What exercise to avoid

If you are unsure about what exercise may suit you, discuss it with your doctor first.

• Avoid any exercise that involves staying in the same place and straining to lift or move something (static exercise) such as heavy weight lifting.  This strains your heart and increases your blood pressure.
• Vigorous competitive sports such as  rugby, football or squash are not recommended.
• Skiing is also not recommended due to the combination of high altitude, physical effort, cold air and emotional factors.

• Swimming is a suitable exercise if you have stable angina.  However you should not dive into freezing cold water and should enter the water within your depth. Heated pools are obviously preferable.

Last updated: 23/11/2007