Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, once you have been assessed by a doctor and your atrial fibrillation is well controlled, it is very safe and in fact very good to exercise. 

It’s possible to start building up your upper body muscles from around 8 weeks post sternotomy. However, the build up will need to be gradual and in line with wound healing. Most full chest work cannot begin until at least 12 weeks post op. You can then start to build up towards doing more difficult exercises like press-ups gradually. It’s important to avoid holding your breath and overdoing things too soon.

The longer the better! Exercise should become part of your life for the long term. Traditional cardiac rehab should last between 3 and 6 months, then move into a long term maintenance programme. 

It will vary from person to person, the type of heart attack, any damage to the heart muscle and other factors. It will be important to avoid exercises that sharply increase your blood pressure. A gradual return and build up of exercise is the best approach. We can brainstorm a safe way to return to your chosen exercise!

The Meditteranean Diet is the most researched diet that has proven health benefits for heart patients. This diet focuses on mostly plants (fruit and vegetables), good fats (nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado), lean proteins (chicken, fish, lean meats) and is low in processed foods and saturated fats. 

It will vary from person to person and be based on a variety of factors including the type of heart condition and how your heart responds to exercise. The most important thing is to build up a solid base of cardiovascular fitness first before progressing to harder cardio exercise. Running can be a safe part of many heart patients programmes. 

It depends on the medications you’re on and whether there are any reasons that drinking alcohol may be harmful. As a toxin, the less alcohol the better and it can hinder your results. The NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week, but less than this may help you to achieve your goals quicker.