Promotion of Physical Activity for Children and Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

The American Heart Association recognizes the importance of physically active lifestyles to the health and well-being of children and adults with congenital heart defects. Counseling of patients with congenital heart defects should emphasize the importance of daily physical activity and decreasing sedentary behavior as appropriate for the patient’s clinical status. The suggested practices are based on relevant research regarding the benefits of physical activity for healthy children and adults, because research on physical activity among patients with congenital heart defects is lacking. There is no evidence regarding whether or not there is a need to restrict recreational physical activity among patients with congenital heart defects, apart from those with rhythm disorders. It is important to recognize that most patients with congenital heart defects are relatively sedentary and that the physical and psychosocial health benefits of physical activity are important for this population, which is at risk for exercise intolerance, obesity, and psychosocial morbidities. Therefore, counseling to encourage daily participation in appropriate physical activity should be a core component of every patient encounter.