Hiking helps heart disease patients
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-26 09:39
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Hiking, in addition to other aerobic exercises, is a good way for many patients with coronary heart disease to improve their physical condition, according to cardiologist Frank Sonntag, a member of the German Heart Foundation's scientific advisory board.
Assuming the patient's coronary heart disease has been adequately treated and is stable, the person should be able to hike without risk in flat terrain, Sonntag notes.
He says research shows that hiking helps prevent the buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries, promotes the formation of new blood vessels and strengthens the body's immune system.
However, heart patients need to be careful not to overtax themselves, and should make sure they can carry on a conversation without breathing hard during a hike, Sonntag says. An attack of angina pectoris or difficulty in breathing indicates that the strain is excessive.