Can I Exercise After Heart Surgery?

If you have had any sort of heart procedure or suffered from a heart attack, you may be wondering whether it is safe for you to exercise. After all, exercise puts a demand on your heart, causing it to beat more rapidly the harder you work.

Keeping active is a key part of recovery and strengthening your heart – but it must be done properly, through cardiac rehab sessions.

Getting active again

Cardiac rehab is offered to those who have undergone heart surgery, or who have had treatment for a heart problem, such as a heart attack. It is designed to help you get stronger and recover.

Cardiac rehab may begin with something simple, like walking a short distance, and will build over several weeks or months to something more strenuous, like riding an exercise bike.

The exact plan that you follow will be tailored just for you by a cardiac rehab team.

Why cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehab specialists will design a program for you that will rebuild your strength and aerobic capacity.

Following a structured cardiac rehab program offers many benefits, including:

• A safe approach: Your safety is paramount, and your cardiac team will design a supervised training plan just for you.
• A personalized approach: Specialists will take into account your medical history, personal factors and fitness levels.
• A holistic approach: As well as exercise, cardiac rehab offers education on risk factors, heart health, and diet and nutrition. Programs also offer emotional support.

Can I exercise at home?

Following any heart surgery or a heart attack, always take a slow and steady approach. Be sensible about exercise and start with gentle walks until you feel stronger.

What you can do, and how soon you can start doing it, will depend on things like your health, your fitness level, the procedure you have had done or the damage that may have been caused by your heart attack.

Always discuss any exercise you are doing at home with your cardiac rehab team and follow their guidance.

How do I know if I’m overdoing it?

Always listen to your body. If you are pushing your body too hard, it will let you know. Signs that you are overdoing it may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Chest pain or tightness.

Moderate exercise is extremely beneficial to your health, so don’t push yourself too hard, too soon. Discuss realistic goals with your cardiac rehab team and you can exercise in an enjoyable and safe way.

Cardiac rehab is key to heart recovery

Exercise after a heart attack or heart surgery is an essential part of recovery. It can improve quality of life, help to prevent future heart attacks and improve heart health. Just make sure you do it under the guidance of a cardiac rehab team.