Chad, are people with both heart disease and arthritis getting the physical activity they need?
[Dr. Helmick] It doesnt look like they are. Our study showed that those people are about 30 percent less active than people that have heart disease alone. This is probably because the people who have arthritis are worried about increasing their joint pain or maybe even damaging their joints more by being physically active. Theyre not sure, really, what activities are safe. [Dr. Gaynes] What kinds of exercise are both safe and beneficial for people with these conditions? [Dr. Helmick] Well, certainly walking is a great exercise. People with arthritis also find that swimming and bicycling help a lot. If people have difficulty trying to decide what to do, theres programs they can go to, with the Arthritis Foundation and others, that can help them think through the issues involved with their particular arthritis and heart problems. If people have any questions or difficulties, they can certainly consult their physician about this. [Dr. Gaynes] Chad, where can listeners get more information
