On the other hand, as I try to help a woman stop smoking, I don't feel I should deny her the benefits of HRT during this time. On the other hand, a woman who smokes is also the same person who needs any cardiac benefits that we can offer her. So I don't know that I would completely deny a woman that benefit, simply because she has an addiction to nicotine. Cardiac health is promoted by aerobic exercise. Typical forms of aerobic exercise include walking, bicycling, aerobics, dancing, or even gardening.
Women often do a lot of aerobic exercise doing housecleaning.
On the other hand, the types of exercise that build bone mass are weightlifting type exercise, and a woman can be encouraged to do very light weight lifting, three to five pounds at a time. Building of bone mass is important for prevention of osteoporosis, while aerobic exercise is important for building a strong heart with healthy blood vessels. The American Heart Association says 20 to 30 minutes, five times per week, is enough to maintain cardiac fitness . The good news is that this can be done in 10 minute bites. So that taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking longer from your parking lot, running up and down the stairs, even a quick walk at lunch time all seem to count as exercise.