By Richard Josephson, MD, as told to Stephanie Watson
Back in the middle of the 20th century, there was a concern that people with cardiovascular disease could hurt themselves if they exercised. People with heart failure used to be confined to their bed for long periods of time. Now we know that exercise, when done safely, doesn’t damage the heart. It can actually protect the heart and lower the chances of future problems.
In most people with heart failure, the main symptom is exercise intolerance, which people often describe as fatigue or shortness of breath. You may feel tired, be unable to…
