Cycle Away Chest Pain

Biking increases the heart's efficiency and pumping power

November 3, 2011
Your bike might save your life. In a yearlong German study of 101 men with blocked coronary arteries, those who rode an exercise bike daily had less chest pain and stronger hearts than those who opted for the artery-clearing surgery known as angioplasty.


Although the exercise group did not reduce the size of the artery blockages, their hearts used oxygen more efficiently and had a better pumping capacity during exercise--both heart-protective factors.


Exercise is a reasonable option if you have stable heart disease and commit to biking every day--provided your doctor agrees. (Some blockages require fast surgery.)