Should I exercise after a heart attack?

Participating in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program that will you help you gradually and safely increase your exercise after having a heart attack is highly recommended. After a heart attack, your heart has become weakened or possibly damaged. Exercise will increase the function and strength of your heart, which will allow you to tolerate more activity and get back to work and functioning normally again. The American Heart Association states that cardiac rehabilitation can decrease a person’s mortality rate by 20 to 30 percent over a five-year period.

Most patients can start walking about a week after suffering a heart attack and can gradually increase their walking and exercise over the next few weeks under the supervision of our cardiac rehab staff. Exercise can also reduce depression and help you control risk factors like high cholesterol, blood pressure and weight. Studies show that people who participate in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program after a heart attack do much better in making positive lifestyle changes, which subsequently, reduces their risk for future heart attacks.

A cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient and help him or her return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life — physically, emotionally and socially. Cardiac rehabilitation should not be considered a quick fix, but a program to help exercise and healthy lifestyle habits become a part of your daily routine.