Exercise

 

 

It’s essential to safely begin exercising (short walks) after a heart attack to strengthen the heart. It’s always best to start gently and slowly build up. Initially it is important to get up and walk around in the home even if just for a few minutes at a time. Having a heart attack can leave us feeling apprehensive about exercising but following healthcare professionals' advice, adhering to our walking programme, listening to one's own body and taking it slowly should alleviate any fears, any concerns we have we should talk to a healthcare professional. 

Although we may want to stay inside at home whilst recovering, it is important for our physical health and our mental health to get back into our community. Short daily walks outside benefit our heart health, boost vitamin D, and decrease stress and anxiety. 

We should build up gradually and to rest the body when needed. If we do not feel well enough or feel too tired, it’s okay to miss that day's walking. 

Tip:

To begin with follow a set route for the daily walk; one that is flat and of easy terrain. A set route allows us to be seen in the community should assistance be needed, plus the benefits of social interaction. 

When there’s a walking buddy, do the ‘walk and talk’ exercise. At first, we may find ourselves out of breath trying to talk whilst walking but overtime we will notice an improvement in our ability to ‘walk and talk’. This is a good indicator of improving fitness. 

In the early weeks after a heart attack, it can be difficult to motivate ourselves, whether it is to make our bed or to walk around the home, but it’s important that we do.

To help motivation we should give ourselves the sense of choice and the sense of meaning.

Sense of choice - What action do we choose to do? By giving ourselves a choice, we are more likely to complete it.

Sense of meaning - What will we gain from doing the action? Acknowledging a gain will increase our ability to achieve it.