If you have cardiovascular disease, your doctor has probably told you to get some exercise. Along with other lifestyle changes, exercise can help you achieve modest decreases in total blood cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) while increasing HDL (the "good" cholesterol).

Exercise is safe for people with cardiovascular disease. In exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs, the estimates of major complications range from 1/100,000 to 1/300,000 patient exercise hours. And the overall risk of a cardiac event appears to be reduced in people who are regular exercisers.

Still, there are 4 warning signs that cardiac patients should be aware of, since they may be signs that heart disease is worsening. They are:

• New onset or recurring anginal pain (pain or pressure in the chest, an ache in the jaw or neck, discomfort down the left or right arm, pain across the shoulders and back)
• Unaccustomed or unusual shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Heart rhythm abnormalities

If you experience any of these, stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention.

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