Exercise and Fitness

For information on staying active with heart disease click here

Why be active?

Increasing physical activity and exercise levels has huge benefits for your general health such as, improving bone density, maximising joint and muscle function, reducing falls and fall related injuries and improving mood. Being active also has real benefits for your heart health.

Being active:

• Reduces your risk of dying from heart disease
• Reduces your risk of developing diabetes
• Assists in the control of your blood pressure
• Helps manage your cholesterol
• Controls blood sugars
• Promotes weight loss
• Reduces depression, anxiety and stress. 

What type of activity or exercise is good for my heart?

Being physically active doesn't mean long sessions or strenuous work-out regimes.  In most circumstances, any increase will be good for your health. Physical activity includes everyday things like  walking, gardening or climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift.

If you have heart disease, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have any concerns about your health always check with your doctor before starting an exercise programme

Remember, its best to stop exercising if you feel any pain or discomfort.

How do I start?

• Start in small amounts, 10 minutes at a time is OK
• Find an activity that you enjoy doing
• Ask family or a friend to join you
• Set yourself a realistic target to do a little exercise each day
• Gradually increase the amount you are doing. Go for a little longer or a little further
• Build up to 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day.

The best way to tell if the exercise you are doing is working is to take the talk test. Watch the video below to see what the talk test is.