Health Tip: Exercising With Heart Problems

(HealthDay News) — Exercise often promotes better heart health, but it’s still important to take precautions.

The American Council on Exercise recommends:

Getting permission from your doctor to start a regular exercise routine. Schedule 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on all or most days of the week.
Talk to your doctor if before, during or just after exercise you have symptoms of dizziness, chest pain, headache, breathlessness or racing heart rate.
Begin each workout with five minutes of warm-up and five minutes of cool-down. During exercise, monitor your heart rate to make sure it stays within an acceptable range.
Don’t push yourself to extremes. If you want a more vigorous workout, clear it with your doctor first and have a stress test. Avoid vigorous exercise in very hot or cold temperatures.
Be sure to exercise in a facility that’s equipped to deal with a medical emergency.