Infection with Covid has turned our lives topsy-turvy. It is known that regular moderate size has a beneficial effect on the heart. It has been found that physically fit people have a good outcome if they develop Covid infection, good buildup of immunity on vaccination and a reduced risk of illness.
However at least 25% of patients admitted with Covid infection manifest some form of heart problem. This is because the virus directly attacks the heart muscle. That is why during the active infection any form of exercise should be avoided.
The safety and timing of starting exercise after recovery is equally important. Our advice is that people who had mild to moderate Covid infection and have no previous heart problem or other diseases can ,on complete recovery , get back to their exercises but it should be started gradually. The others should consult their cardiologist before restarting physical exercise.
Regular aerobic exercise, especially cycling, is a good option for returning back to exercise to improve your fitness and heart health. A trip for about 20 minutes daily can start to improve your cardiovascular system. When done regularly, cycling also helps raise to levels of heart-protecting HDL cholesterol and reduce the levels of dangerous triglycerides. Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Cycling strengthens your heart muscles, lowers resting pulse and reduces blood fat levels. A study conducted by Purdue University, the US, concluded that regular cycling can cut your risk of heart disease by a whopping 50 per cent.