If I have a stent installed in my heart, can I still exercise in my daily life?

Author: Shen Zhujun, Chief Physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Reviewer: Guo Shubin, Chief Physician, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Many people believe that "illness is like a mountain falling on you." For a serious illness like heart disease, one needs to be extremely cautious after having a stent installed in the heart, and often "stay inside the house."

In fact, proper exercise can not only improve the exercise tolerance of patients with cardiovascular diseases, improve related symptoms, and prevent disease recurrence, but also has great benefits for the later recovery of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

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1. What are the benefits of exercise for cardiac rehabilitation?

1. Reduce risk factors

The main risk factors for coronary heart disease are hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity and overweight, smoking and bad eating habits, which can lead to a high recurrence rate of coronary heart disease and many adverse consequences. Proper exercise can lower blood pressure, improve insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism, thereby reducing the recurrence rate and mortality of coronary heart disease.

2. Lowers Blood Pressure

Proper exercise can improve vascular endothelial function, reduce vasoconstrictor activity and increase vasodilator activity, inhibit excessive sympathetic nerve activation, and thus lower blood pressure.

3. Improve insulin resistance

Exercise can increase the sensitivity of insulin in the liver and adipose tissue, enhance the utilization of glucose transporters by fat, reduce the production of adipose factors, improve the function of pancreatic beta cells, etc., thereby improving insulin resistance and reducing the recurrence rate of cardiovascular disease.

4. Improve lipid metabolism

Exercise helps promote fat metabolism and restore low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to normal levels, thereby improving ventricular remodeling related to obesity.

5. Delay the progression of atherosclerosis

Scientific and reasonable exercise can promote coronary collateral circulation and reduce atherosclerotic plaques by improving vascular endothelial function and fat and blood sugar metabolism, thereby delaying the progression of atherosclerosis and reducing the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events.

2. How should patients with cardiovascular disease exercise?

Although exercise can improve the symptoms of patients with cardiovascular disease, it is necessary to choose an exercise method with appropriate intensity, as follows:

1. Biking

Cycling is a relatively relaxing form of exercise and is suitable for patients with heart stents, but the distance of riding should not be too long. It is recommended that each ride be 10 to 20 km, 3 times a week, preferably in the afternoon, and avoid riding in downtown areas or during peak hours and areas with noisy crowds and heavy traffic.

2. Take a walk

Walking is also a suitable form of exercise for patients after heart surgery, but you should pay attention to the time. You can't walk right after a meal, which will increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and easily cause indigestion. In order to prevent secondary injuries caused by exercise, you should walk 30 minutes after a meal.

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3. Jogging

Jogging is a relatively relaxing form of exercise that can not only improve sleep quality, but also adjust cardiopulmonary function. If patients who have undergone heart stent surgery can insist on jogging for 30 to 60 minutes every day, it can not only enhance the contraction function of blood vessels, but also enhance the body's immunity and prevent the recurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

4. Dancing

Dancing is a relatively safe form of exercise for patients with cardiovascular disease, but it should be a gentle dance.

Appropriate dancing can not only improve the myocardial supply of cardiovascular patients, but also improve the functions of lipid metabolism and cardiac metabolism. Appropriate social activities can also inspire patients' love for life.

5. Do Tai Chi

Tai Chi is gentle and combines both hardness and softness. It can not only improve the body's metabolic capacity, but also improve the oxygen supply capacity of the cardiovascular system. Practicing Tai Chi for 30 minutes every day can effectively prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

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In addition, swimming and golf are also suitable forms of exercise for patients recovering from heart stent surgery.

3. What are the exercise precautions for patients with cardiovascular disease?

The following are some of the things to note when exercising for patients with cardiovascular disease:

1. Choose low-intensity aerobic exercise

Patients who have undergone heart stent surgery should not engage in strenuous exercise, especially confrontational sports such as basketball, football, rugby, etc. They should do exercises with lower intensity, such as walking, Tai Chi, golf, jogging and swimming.

2. Exercise regularly

It is recommended to exercise for more than 3 days a week, and not to "fish for three days and dry the net for two days".

3. Exercise gradually

Patients with cardiovascular diseases should exercise every day according to their physical condition. At the beginning, exercise for 5 to 15 minutes each time, and then gradually increase to 20 to 40 minutes. Do not exercise too hard at once to avoid excessive fatigue that may induce cardiovascular diseases.