Post stent exercise

[Drummer1]

Age 66, been going to gym for 9 months, walking, boxercise, never felt better, eating well etc. ......then suffered mild heart attack, had 1 stent fitted, now taking usual post stent meds.

Obviously going to listen to Cardiac Rehab team, but can’t help wondering how it’s going to affect future fitness regimes, i.e. is HIIT, Boxercise etc. now off limits, do I treat this episode as a ‘ game changer ‘ or after a period of recuperation get back to where I was fitness wise.

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Drummer1. I had a heart attack + stent age 55 over 3 years ago now. The thing about having a heart attack is that is does damage your heart muscle so your heart won’t be the same after as it was before. But it is possible to make your heart more efficient through exercise (but sounds like you were pretty fit before), healthier eating, meds etc. So it’s possible that your slightly damaged heart can work better than it did pre heart attack. It will take some time to get there.

That’s a long way of saying - you’ll get back to where you were before. The only thing I’d say is that the meds slowed me down. So while I’m fitter, the beta blockers stop my heart going up to previous levels. And it also takes me longer to warm up and cool down.

[Drummer1 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, according to Cardiologist there was minimal damage to heart muscle and if there is such a thing as a ‘ mild heart attack ‘ then maybe it was that. At first he thought angina but indicator enzymes were slightly raised ( 126 Trop ) leading possibly towards the former.

Encouraging to hear that some form of normality may be attained.

Cheers

[Maisie2014]

Hi Drummer1. I had my heart attack and stent at age 68 last year. I was very fit and attended Body Attack and Zumba classes 3 to 4 times a week. I also swam and walked. I’m ok now but my age and the meds have slowed me down considerably. I’m not so bothered about keeping fit but just to keep healthy. I still go for a walk every day but only to ensure I don’t seize up all together.

[Drummer1 in reply to Maisie2014]

Hi

Thanks for your reply

If I could keep healthy that would be great,

Cheers

[Drummer1]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, according to Cardiologist there was minimal damage to heart muscle and if there is such a thing as a ‘ mild heart attack ‘ then maybe it was that. At first he thought angina but indicator enzymes were slightly raised ( 126 Trop ) leading possibly towards the former.

I think that the hard thing for me is that prior to my ‘ incident’ last weekend I had been on a 9 months fitness campaign, gradually shedding 20 lbs and only the previous week going toe toe with a young boxer and feeling great afterwards.

It’s encouraging to hear what you are doing now and understand that it’s down to the individual,, I’ll certainly be listening to the Cardiac Re-hab team to give myself the best chance.

Cheers

[Squash1961]

Hi Drummer 1

I had a HA 3 weeks ago, I’m 59 was super fit and active, but dealt some bd genes. Had Tropinin levels at 1000. Cardiologist told me that there was no sign of functional heart muscle damage. The meds are messing me around bit (soreness in left arm, and feeling anxious) but the Cardiologist says that I should be able to get back to normal fitness over time just ‘listen to you body’ and build up gradually. Early days, but I’m back on my spin bike, just slowly raising heart rate, then easing off. No HIIT training for a while, but just ease back into it

[Drummer1 in reply to Squash1961]

Hi Squash

So pleased to have joined forum, I think the replies I have had are the re-assurance that I needed for the future I.e. listen to your body, take time and think positive. Thanks for replies and best wishes to all.