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Zhou Lan, 60, is a retired primary school teacher. She has always been passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so after her retirement, she decided to practice yoga every day, yoga not only helps her keep her body active, but also enhances her flexibility and balance.
However, after persisting in yoga practice for two years, Zhou Lan suddenly felt chest pain during a course and was diagnosed with myocardial infarction after being rushed to the hospital. At the hospital, Dr. Zhang, a cardiologist who received the visit, conducted a careful analysis of Zhou Lan's condition.
He asked Zhou Lan about her yoga practice habits and other details of her lifestyle. Zhou describes her yoga schedule, which includes stretching and meditation each morning, as well as occasional high-intensity yoga practice.
Dr Teo explained the medical causes of myocardial infarction and mentioned several key factors that affect heart health, including exercise intensity and personal health history.
In particular, he pointed out that although yoga is a gentle exercise suitable for people of all ages, excessive physical activity, especially for middle-aged and elderly people who are at potential risk of cardiovascular disease, may increase the burden on the heart.
The first takeaway from Dr. Teo is that any exercise program, especially for older people, needs to be individualized to suit their health condition.
He stressed that a comprehensive medical check-up is essential before engaging in any form of physical activity, especially for people with heart problems. The second takeaway is that maintaining heart health isn't just about physical activity, it's about overall lifestyle choices.
Proper cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking, for 150 minutes per week, has been shown to be beneficial for heart health. After this consultation, Zhou Lan gained a deeper understanding of how to continue her yoga practice safely.
During her recovery, she asked a related question: "Doctor, how can I adjust my yoga practice to make sure I don't overburden my heart?"
"Before continuing your yoga practice, it is advisable to work with a sports medicine specialist to develop an exercise regimen that is appropriate for your current health condition," Dr Teo advises. Consider combining yoga with some aerobic exercises, such as walking or water fitness.
to help improve heart and lung function while avoiding overly drastic postural changes. Zhou Lan thanked Dr. Zhang for her advice and decided to gradually resume her yoga practice under the doctor's guidance, while adding other low-intensity cardiovascular exercises.
to stay energized while protecting her heart health. Zhou Lan started her exercise plan, she learned how to control the intensity of exercise by observing breathing rate and heart rate, and also added a moderate amount of cardiovascular exercise, such as jogging and swimming.
Zhou Lan found that such a change not only reduced the pressure on her heart, but also made her feel more energetic. In the follow-up review, Dr Cheung expressed satisfaction with Zhou's improvement and continued to emphasise the importance of proper exercise.
He reminded Zhou that while yoga is a beneficial form of exercise, choosing the right type and intensity of yoga is especially important to prevent heart problems.
He advises Zhou Lan to try more breath control exercises and stretching movements, which can help reduce the body's stress response while increasing the body's flexibility and blood circulation.
Dr. Zhang also mentions that moderate mixed exercise is effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, and that for patients with a pre-existing history of heart disease, a customized exercise program can greatly improve their quality of life and prognosis.
These exercises include a combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training, which can help improve the efficiency of the heart and the endurance of the body as a whole.
Inspired by this, Zhou Lan decided to share this new knowledge with her friends and family, hoping that they would also recognize the importance of proper exercise. She also joins a community fitness group for people with heart health.
Regularly carry out activities with other members to support each other and make progress together. A few months later, at a health talk, Zhou Lan asked a question: "Dr. Zhang, I know that stress is also an important factor in heart disease.
Can you recommend some effective stress management?" says Dr. Zhang, "Indeed, in addition to physical activity, managing stress is also key to maintaining heart health, and it is recommended to try meditation as these techniques can help you lower your stress hormone levels."
Improving heart rate variability to reduce the risk of heart disease, and maintaining active social activities and hobbies can also reduce stress and improve your quality of life. ”
Zhou Lan thanked Dr. Zhang for her advice, so that she could not only maintain her physical vitality, but also have a more peaceful mind.
What do you think about yoga?