Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I had a quadruple bypass four months ago and have no cardiac rehab program available to me in Santa Fe NM where I live. I need guides to how to exercise. I can go to a gym. I have an exercise bike and weights at home. I monitor my blood pressure and have, I think an ok diet. No stress. No emotional distress. Sleep over 10 hrs.I think that an intense workout(relatively) every other day is the way to go.With blood pressure monitoring. Your thoughts? I am under care of a GP and Cardiologist.Bernard Gross age 82
[|AI|]  Hello thanks for posting here. It is really a great determination from your side being 82, post heart surgery and willing to do intensive workout. But I didn't feel there is any need of intensive workout. Working out with weights will not give any significant benefits to you. Most important in a post surgery patient is cardio exercises. Since you have an exercise bike at home you can put it to good use. A daily cycling for about 45 mins will be ideal. If you cannot do for 45 mins at one go, you can do 20 mins in the morning and 20 in the evening. Gradually your stamina will rise, and you will be able to do 30 mins morning and 30 mins evening.  Regular workout on the exercise bike will increase your effort tolerance, burn out the extra calories and also help the body to utilize cholesterol, thereby decreasing the chances of reaccumulation of cholesterol on heart arteries. Regular cycling will also strengthen the leg muscles which will increase amount of blood coming back to the heart from the legs and will increase preload on the heart. This will help to increase the cardiac output also. It also helps to keep the heart rate under control. So in short cycling is an all-inclusive exercise which is of great benefit. Brisk walking or walking on a treadmill daily is also beneficial. Other exercises are breath holding, deep breathing and breathing exercises which will increase oxygen delivery to the lungs and hence reduce heart workload. If you do the above, you would not need any other exercises, and you will do very well and lead a symptom free life. Wishing you good health. Regards