excersizing

hi, 2 yrs ago I had my mitro valve replaced with a machanical valve, after several weeks of going into afib after the surgery they decided to install a pace maker as well. Due to financial reasons I have not been able to keep going to my regular cardioligist, so I thought maybe some of you can answer some of my questions about excersizing.....Is it good for you to excersize? the reason I ask is because I thought the pace maker was suppose to keep the heart at a certain rate so is excersizing good or bad for you in my condition. Lord knows I could use some excersize. Thanks, Denise

2 Comments

Exercising

by J.B. - 2010-01-02 10:01:59

Generally speaking, people should exercise as it is good for the body in more ways than one, but I can't tell you if you should or should not because I know nothing of your health problems. But I will say your pacemaker should not figure into whether you do or not exercise.

You say you got your pacemaker because you were having A-Fib. The role a pacemaker plays for people with A-Fib is that when our heart goes into to A-Fib the atrium is beating very fast however a pacemaker can not slow that fast heart beat. But when the A-Fib episode is over, the heart rate can do go in the other direction and get very slow. That is where your pacemaker comes into play. It steps in and keeps your heart beat from getting too slow.

Based on your statement "I thought the pacemaker was suppose to keep the heart at a certain rate" I can see you are like many of us that get pacemakers. I thought, when I got mine that the pacemaker did all the work in regulating my heart rate., Nothing could be further from the truth for me and about 99% of us. Our pacemaker is an on-demand device. It sits there monitoring our heart rate and will step in to help when ever the heart rate drops below the low set point the PM. For that 1% that are not like most of us they are what we know as 100% pacemaker dependant and for various medical reasons their pacemaker does keep their heart beating 100% of the time. You will need to ask the doctor to know if you are pacemaker dependant, but my guess you are not.

I would suggest that if possible, ask the doctor about your exercising but if you can't and want to try to exercise take it easy at the beginning. You will be just like those that do not have a pacemaker and have not exercised in a good while, and will need to start slow and build up your stamina.

I noticed you said you are not getting pacemaker checkups because of financial reasons. You might think about going to an ER with a complaint about you heart - you have had a valve replacement - and I'm reasonably sure your pacemaker will be checked and you can ask your questions about your pacemaker then.

Now to those that may be tempted to say that is cheating. I don't think so. It is just accepting what health care in our country has been reduced to and learning to do what is necessary.

Heart Healthy

by donb - 2010-01-02 11:01:26

Hi Denise, just want to add that J.B. has covered all the bases. Also Atrial Fib is usually controlled with Beta-Blocker medication which helps stabilize your hearts rthym also lowering your HR. Your PM keeps your HR within your normal limits.

I'm on my 4th PM now after nearly 18 years, have been on beta blocker medication and doing good. I did develop A-Fib this past year and was put on a stronger Beta Blocker with my 4th PM change, taking Betapace 80 mg twice a day and working well.

NowI must tell you I also have a RCA stent put in a few years ago and followed up with Cardiac Rehab Exercise.
Of course this was Dr. Approved and I'm continuing regularly. It has helped me physically more than I could ever imagine. I use my watch heart monitor during all exercise and can see improvement both in Hr and also Rthym as my $39.00 watch just can't get a stable reading if my heart is not in good rthym.

One of the real benefits of my Rehab program is diet. A good Healthy Heart Diet will help more than what most poeple think. I'm a feather weight with very low cholesterol and still managed to need a stent, that is before Rehab. I also must add that I had to quit Rehab for a number of months this past year but have picked up the loses and doing better than ever as I'm the oldest of our early morning group. I can honestly say that in my case exercise has saved my butt many times over. Also here comes the waiver!!! Check with your Dr as to limitations.
My closest friend ,10 years younger than me had a quad bypass and heart valve replaced. Drs' almost lost him as all this was this past year and he is doing great, Again he followed up with Rehab in the same gym. Good Luck !! donb

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