Having heart disease? You can still be fit & firm!

Having heart disease doesn’t mean you can’t exercise! Physical activity is beneficial for both body and mind. Even those living with heart conditions can work out with confidence. Still, it’s essential to consult a medical specialist before starting, so you can choose the right type of exercise that fits your age and physical condition, and follow the doctor’s advice closely. Safety is the top priority. So, how exactly should heart patients exercise? Let’s take a look together.

Consult Your Doctor Before Exercising

For heart patients, the benefits of exercise are to reduce the risk of further complications, extend life expectancy, and help restore health to a level close to or even the same as before the heart condition.

Although exercising does carry some risks, it is still possible and even recommended. Before starting, patients should undergo a medical check-up so the doctor can assess overall fitness, heart rate, and any potential complications that may occur during or after exercise. The doctor will also determine the appropriate duration and intensity of physical activity. This ensures both confidence and safety when exercising.

Exercises Suitable for Heart Disease Patients

For patients with heart disease, the following types of exercise are recommended:

• Brisk Walking : Suitable for elderly heart patients as it does not cause excessive fatigue. Walking just 1–3 hours per week can strengthen both the body and the heart.
• Running : Helps the heart muscle pump blood more efficiently, reduces stress, and strengthens other muscles as well.
• Tennis : Improves muscle strength and mobility, especially in the arms and legs, while also enhancing blood circulation.
• Swimming : Highly beneficial for heart health as it strengthens the heart muscle and improves flexibility. Water also supports body weight, making exercise feel less tiring compared to land-based workouts.
• Aerobic Stick Exercise (Ram Krabong) : A full-body workout based on physiology that helps regulate the heart’s blood circulation.

Tips : heart Heart rate should ideally remain within Zone 1–3 (50%–80%), depending on each individual’s physical condition. A doctor should determine the appropriate level.

Precautions

Exercise for heart disease patients must have clear limits, and symptoms should be monitored regularly during workouts. The following precautions should be observed:

• Avoid exercising on an empty stomach.
• If the weather is extremely hot or cold, exercise indoors.
• Warm up and stretch for about 5–10 minutes before and after exercising.
• Exercise under the supervision of an instructor or trainer, so that assistance is available if any symptoms occur.
• Stay hydrated.
• Do not exercise when feeling unwell.
• If you experience chest pain, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, or unusual shortness of breath, stop exercising immediately.

Tips : Over-exercising may cause chest pain or tightness from insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle. For patients with heart failure or other types of heart disease, it may also lead to abnormal shortness of breath due to fluid buildup in the lungs.

Although exercise is beneficial for the heart and overall health, it also carries risks. Therefore, it should be approached with caution, gradually, and with an awareness of the patient’s own physical capacity. Most importantly, don’t forget to boost your health confidence with the CI Perfect Care Rider, which helps cover medical expenses for 36 critical illnesses. If diagnosed, you’ll receive a lump sum benefit of up to 1 million Baht, with premiums of less than 7 Baht per day(1), plus tax deductions.

(1) Based on a female insured, age 28, with a sum insured of 1,000,000 Baht and paying premiums annually.

(2) The death benefit and/or benefit for early-stage, intermediate-stage, and late-stage critical illness combined will not exceed 100% of the rider’s sum insured.

For more details click here or call Tel. 1766

• Coverage period of this rider must not exceed the coverage period of the life insurance that this rider is attached to.
• CI Perfect Care Rider must be purchased to be attached to the effective policy.
• Premium is partly eligible for tax deduction. Conditions are as specified by the Revenue Department.
• Underwriting is subject to the Company’s rules.
• Coverage conditions are as specified in the insurance policy.
• Conditions are as specified by Muang Thai Life Assurance PCL and the banks.
• Premium is partly eligible for tax deduction. Conditions are as specified by the Revenue Department.
• Please study the details of coverage, conditions, and exclusions before making a decision to purchase insurance.

Sources: Data retrieved from 15/11/2021

🔖 Department of Medical Services (data as of 21/05/62)

🔖 Goodlife update (data as of  17/09/61)

🔖 Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital (data as of 21/08/60)

🔖 Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital (data as of 08/12/63)

🔖 Sanook (data as of 06/11/61)