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All specific situation tips
Heart & blood pressure

Running with heart disease or hypertension

  • Cardiac clearance is essential if you have had a heart attack, stent, arrhythmia, heart failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • Easy, conversational pace is usually the right default until a cardiologist or rehab program says otherwise.
  • Some blood pressure medications affect heart rate — perceived effort and watch zones may not match generic formulas.
  • Stop for chest pressure, arm or jaw pain, unusual shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat.
  • Build volume slowly. Many cardiac rehab graduates return to running with walk-run progressions over months.

This is general education, not cardiac rehab. Follow your physician's exercise prescription if you have one.

LetsRunNow provides general fitness education, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting or changing an exercise program — especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant, are recovering from injury or illness, or have not been active recently. LetsRunNow provides general fitness education, not medical advice. Talk to your physician before starting or changing exercise. Read our full terms.

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