How To Exercise With Aortic Stenosis

When it comes to your heart health, exercise is key in lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. But if you have aortic stenosis, can you still work out? And if so, what types of exercise are best?

Cardiologist L. Leonardo Rodriguez, MD, explains the different aortic stenosis guidelines.

Exercising with aortic stenosis

It’s generally OK for people with aortic stenosis to exercise. But Dr. Rodriguez says it all depends on factors like your symptoms and how advanced your heart condition is (mild, moderate or severe). The degree of exercise allowed should be recommended by your doctor.

Aortic stenosis happens when there’s a narrowing or blockage of your aortic valve. This makes it more difficult for blood to pass. And when you exercise, your heart works harder. For people with severe aortic stenosis, this can cause symptoms, like chest pain and shortness of breath, and other complications, like reduced blood flow to the rest of your body.

Your doctor may suggest an exercise stress test to help determine what intensity of exercise is best for you. During a stress test, you’ll exercise in a medical setting while being monitored by medical professionals.

“We just want to be sure that there are zero abnormalities, that the electrocardiogram (ECG) remains normal and that you don’t have any arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm) with exercise,” explains Dr. Rodriguez. “It’s a way to confirm exactly how much exercise you can do under supervised conditions.”

Best exercises with aortic stenosis

If you have mild or moderate aortic stenosis, your doctor may recommend low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise, like:

• Walking
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Water aerobics
• Yoga

“Unless your aortic stenosis is severe, we’re typically liberal with exercise,” clarifies Dr. Rodriguez. “We prefer some type of aerobic exercise. You can only do strength training up to a certain point because it can cause an elevation of your blood pressure.”

If you have severe aortic stenosis, you’ll need to adjust your workout based on recommendations from your doctor. For example, you may need to avoid or modify yoga poses that result in your head being below your heart, as that can increase your blood pressure. If symptoms are present, strenuous exercise should be avoided until the problem is resolved.

Per general exercise guidelines, aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

What exercises to avoid

In most cases, your doctor may recommend avoiding strenuous or vigorous exercise and activity.

“Strenuous exercise is when you’re working at 70% to 80% of your predicted heart rate,” says Dr. Rodriguez.

Exercises and activities you may need to avoid include:

• Running
• Jumping rope
• Competitive sports
• Carrying heavy items

Tips for exercising with aortic stenosis

Keep these pointers in mind when you’re exercising:

• Make warming up and cooling down part of your routine. It can be easy to overlook these vital parts of exercise. Warming up for five to 10 minutes can reduce the stress placed on your heart. And taking the time to cool down for five to 10 minutes helps bring your blood pressure and heart rate back to a resting state.
• Go slow. If you’re starting a new workout routine, take it easy and have realistic expectations. You may need to slowly increase how much you work out. For example, you may only be able to walk for five minutes on the first few days. But you should try to gradually increase the length or intensity of your workout over time.
• Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink enough water before and after any physical activity so you don’t become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause unwanted strain on your heart by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Listen to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you take rest days in between workouts to help your body recover.

Why exercising with a heart condition matters

In most situations, you won’t need to limit or adjust your activity. “We encourage people with less than severe aortic stenosis to be active,” reiterates Dr. Rodriguez.

But, again, make sure you work with your doctor to figure out what type of exercise is right for you before starting any kind of exercise program. It’s important to be aware of how your body is responding when engaging in physical activity.

Stop exercising and talk to your doctor if you experience:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fainting

“It’s important to be active,” concludes Dr. Rodriguez. “There’s a relationship between physical activity and longevity. Exercise plays a vital role in your heart health.”