After years of being physically inactive , deciding to exercise is one of the best things you can do for your heart. But one mistake most people make is trying to make up for years of inactivity in a matter of weeks. Your heart needs time to adapt, just like your muscles and joints do. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Subhash Chandra, chairman of the Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Program, BLK MAX Hospital, shared how your heart reacts and why you should ease into it.
Dr Subhash highlighted that the concern arises when someone who has been inactive suddenly starts running , lifting heavy weights, or doing high-intensity workouts without allowing the body to adjust. Exercise temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure. The heart responds best to consistency. You do not need to prove your fitness in the first week. Start sensibly, increase the workload gradually, and make physical activity a routine. After years of inactivity, the goal is not to push your heart to its limit. The goal is to train it to become stronger, one step at a time.
“In a person with undiagnosed heart disease or risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity or a strong family history of heart disease, sudden strenuous exercise can place considerable stress on the cardiovascular system,” said Dr Subhash.
