Cardiologist advises age-appropriate gym routine to protect the heart

The purpose of going to the gym should not be merely to strengthen the muscles; it should be aimed at protecting and strengthening the heart in a safe and healthy way, said Senthilkumar Nallusamy, chief cardiologist, Rana Hospital, here on Monday.

Seeking to create awareness about cardiac health among people engaged in regular workouts at a gym in the city on the eve of World Heart Day here on Monday, the cardiologist explained the safe pulse-rate range during treadmill exercise. The Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) is commonly estimated using the formula: MHR = 220−age. However, this is only a reference estimate and not a universal safe limit.

The safe pulse rate until which one can run on a treadmill is the Target Heart Rate (THR) which is 70–85% of the estimated MHR as per that person’s age, he said.