- Could you share why exercise holds a special interest for you personally and what insights the new guidelines offer us? My background is as an exercise physiologist and I have had a passion and focus throughout my previous studies (including my PhD) around exercise in patients with Atrial Fibrillation. This has extended out to all aspects of exercise for those with cardiovascular disease. I have previously seen patients in clinics and been involved in exercise testing so I am very familiar with all aspects of exercise. The new Australian Guidelines which I led, were launched recently bring us in line with the European and United States Exercise guidelines. As CEO of Heart Support Australia, we promote the importance of exercise and offer support groups all across the country to provider longer-term support options for patients whether they completed their rehab or not. Our peer support programs are designed to support all heart disease patients no matter where they are in their journey and for as long as they need it.
- Would you say that there are any unique health considerations for women when exercising? In actual fact there are no differences around the guidelines for women, the benefits of exercising are the same for both men and women. We want everyone to realise the importance of exercising, so the call to action is the same – people need to move more! Having said that, we know that there are times in a woman’s life when exercise becomes increasingly important such as menopause. This is because there is a drop in Estrogen which can affect bone density so this is a time when women should be keeping up their levels of exercise. This might include walking, running and strength based exercises (resistance training).
- Our community is curious about the science behind the benefits of exercise. Could you share some of the science behind why it’s important to engage in regular physical activity and its link to heart health? Our bodies are designed to move and the reality is that we are constantly sitting and leading sedentary lives. Exercise has enormous benefits such as helping regulate your weight, assists in improving your lipid profiles by reducing your LDL (bad lipids), it increases insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation in the body, improves hypertension and diabetes risk. Whether you have cardiovascular disease or not – there are so many benefits. I would also say that women shouldn’t be too scared to get their heart rate up, for example – we know that in order to get the benefit of walking or jogging 30 minutes – 3 times a week, you actually need to be a little bit out of breath.
- Could you share with us different types of exercise for heart health? There are many different types of activities and it’s important to find something you enjoy as you will be motivated to keep going. We know that walking is very beneficial but its best to try to combine them. So, we know that Pilates helps with bones density as well as Yoga, however, it’s important to factor in some aerobic activity. This can be an activity such as an aerobics class, and another one to consider is HIIT training. This is where you do 4 minutes of high intensity exercise then you rest for 2-3 minutes, then repeat. Combining this activity with walking three times a week is very beneficial and safe in people with or at risk of heart disease. If you have had a cardiac event (heart attack) then I would really be encouraging you to attend a cardiac rehab program or perhaps find a physio or exercise physiologist to get advice on a suitable exercise plan. Having a tailored plan or attending a cardiac rehabilitation program ensures that you start you off incrementally – such as walking on a flat level, increasing not only the length of time you exercise for but also the intensity.
- Many women lead busy lives. Do you have any practical tips or suggestions on how women can effectively incorporate exercise into their daily routines. We know that we all lead busy lives, but when you understand the importance of exercise (the effect on everything including your mental health) you are more motivated to carve out time. It’s important to try and factor it into different aspects of your day, whether this be parking further away from work and walking the rest of the way. Where you can, take the stairs, for example, I do this regularly and at any opportunity whether it be work or at the airport. Sometimes, we can all make excuses but even though we have a very young family we make the time to all go out together, to walk regularly to our local shops. I would also suggest that you make it fun, so my wife and I regularly check our step count on our phones and while it’s not a competition, sometimes it can be very motivating if one of us isn’t as high as the other!
- In closing, are there any additional insights you’d like to share with our audience regarding the importance of exercise and heart health, especially as it pertains to women? I think that many women struggle to make time for themselves, I do understand as someone with a young family. I often have to encourage my wife (as we have a 6 month old) to prioritise her exercise, as its often towards the end of the day that she gets to exercise. When she does – she says that she can immediately feel the benefits as it’s not just about the physical benefits but the mental health benefits too. We all need “me time” and we need to try to not make it too easy to opt out!
