Help get this topic noticed by sharing it on Twitter Twitter, Facebook Facebook, or email.
Anjali Gupta EMPLOYEE
silly I’m unsure
Anjali Gupta (Customer) June 05, 2009 07:01

Exercise Safety and Your Heart

Is it a dangerous to exercise if I am having angina pains? I am a longtime runner, and I recently "ran through" the pain during a 5K-road race. Is it unwise to continue a workout when I’m having chest pain?
1 person has
this question +1
Reply

  • eConsult Team EMPLOYEE
    happy I’m confident
    eConsult Team (Resident Doctors) June 05, 2009 07:18
    Angina -- chest pain or discomfort that occurs when an area of the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood -- is a symptom of an underlying heart problem. That said, anginal pain itself is not a contraindication for exercise. In fact, a certain amount of regular exercise may help develop new blood vessels to the area of the heart where arteries are blocked. However, you should discuss with a physician your level of exertion and target heart rate. This is especially important if the degree of blockage is significant.

    Like all muscle, the heart needs more oxygen during exercise, and strenuous exercise can cause an imbalance between oxygen demand and supply in the diseased portion of the heart; this can lead to serious consequences in some cases. If you are truly having anginal pains, you need to make sure that you are on an optimal medical regimen -- to repeat, you need to consult your doctor.
    Comment
    good answer! good answer! (undo)
  • (some HTML allowed)
    How does this make you feel?     Add Image
    I'm

    e.g. kidding, amused, unsure, silly indifferent, undecided, unconcerned sad, anxious, confused, frustrated happy, confident, thankful, excited

    Cancel