Exercise IS important to your heart and health. It should be something you enjoy and can do most days for 30-60 minutes. This book will help you make wise decisions about exercise. It will help you understand the good effects that exercise can have on your body. It also gives you actual exercise programs to try. People who already exercise can use this book as well as people who are just thinking about exercise. It can be used by people who have just had a heart attack, heart surgery, angioplasty, a stent or other heart or health problems, and by healthy people of all ages. Before starting any regular exercises, know the exact state of your health. If you are already under a doctor's care, get his or her advice before doing any exercise. Most of all, we want you to exercise safely and have fun doing it.
About the Author: About the authors Barbara J. Fletcher, RN, MN, FAHA, FPCNA, FAAN is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Brooks College of Health, School of Nursing at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Previously, she served as the Program Director for both Georgia Baptist Medical Center and Emory University Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Atlanta, Georgia. She sat on the National American Heart Association (AHA) Exercise Committee through which she has co-authored several position statements on exercise. Besides co-authoring Exercise for Heart & Health, she has co-authored five other patient education books on heart disease and numerous professional journal articles and book chapters. Her research endeavors continue to be focused on exercise in special populations. Gerald F. Fletcher, MD, FAHA, FACC is Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Cardiovascular Specialist at Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida. He previously served as Medical Director for both the Georgia Baptist and Emory University Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs. He has chaired the National American Heart Association (AHA) Exercise Committee and more recently chaired the writing groups for the AHA Statements and Standards on Exercise Testing and Training. Besides this book, Dr. Fletcher has authored and co-authored numerous national and international professional journal articles, book chapters and books. His research continues to focus on the preventive aspects of cardiovascular disease. John D. Cantwell, MD, MACP, FACC is a 3rd generation physician from Wisconsin and a cardiologist with the Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta. He attended Duke University and played on their first ACC basketball championship team. He served as a team physician for the Atlanta Braves for 41 seasons and was the chief medical officer for the 1996 Olympic Games. A charter member of his high school's sports Hall of Fame for his football, basketball and baseball exploits, he continues to be physically active - weight training, or walking or biking over an hour with his wife most days.