Individuals suffering from heart disease must take every precaution to avoid any future heart-related ailments. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by dedicating yourself to an active lifestyle, but you have to do so carefully to prevent putting too much strain on your heart.

 

Staying active as you deal with heart disease can be a difficult balancing act. Fortunately, Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, the best cardiologist in Tampa, can help you develop an effective exercise regimen that helps you stay healthy while mitigating the symptoms of heart disease. As a “self-proclaimed anti-pill physician,” Dr. Popat does everything in his power to get his patients off medications through lifestyle modification.

Healthy Hearts Need Exercise

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. This condition increases your chance of a heart attack. They insist that lifestyle changes are the key to reducing your risk of heart attack. Along with eating healthy and consulting the best cardiologist in Tampa when you are experiencing heart-related symptoms, staying active is an important part of maintaining a healthy heart.

Physical Activity After a Heart Attack

After you suffer a heart attack, you want to postpone any physical activity until you’ve consulted your cardiologist. After performing a diagnostic test with 2D and 3D cardiovascular ultrasound machines or via nuclear cardiac imaging, Dr. Popat can provide patients with recommendations and a lifestyle modification plan that includes changes to your diet and exercise habits. 

 

Simply put, physical activity improves your quality of life, but you need to approach exercise deliberately to prevent injury. This may mean reducing work, travel, exercise, and sexual activity while your heart recovers. You should also support your exercise goals with a healthy diet. Some examples of heart healthy diets include mediterranean diets, whole-food and plant-based diets, the Ornish Diet, and the Nutritarian Diet. 

Aerobic Exercise: the Key to Heart Health

The significant toll that heart disease takes on the heart can be counteracted with aerobic exercise. That said, you should take a gradual approach to aerobic exercise and avoid pushing yourself past your limits. Start slow and work your way up as you evaluate how you feel before, during, and after exercise. Walking, swimming, light jogging, and biking are all examples of relatively low-impact exercises that allow you to stay active without putting too much strain on your heart. If you start to experience heart-related symptoms, such as pain, pressure, or shortness of breath, consult Dr. Popat, the best cardiologist in the Tampa Bay area, to discuss whether or not further lifestyle changes should be implemented.

To consult Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, the best cardiologist in the Tampa Bay area, please call (813) 344-0934 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.

 

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for general educational purposes only. All content and media on the Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC website does not constitute professional medical advice nor is the information intended to replace the services of Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC or other qualified medical professionals. If you believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. 

 

The content, views, and opinions communicated on this website do not represent the views of Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Although this website contains links to other medical websites, this is strictly for informational purposes. Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC is not responsible nor does the medical practice approve of the content featured on any third party linked websites referenced on this website.