Anxiety about exercise after stents

[CardiacKid78]

Given I had an on exertion NSTEMI in Christmas week and had 2 stents fitted, does anyone else have anxiety about how much to exert themselves in exercise and how did you get over it?

[Hidden]

I had an NSTEMI four years ago followed by an angiogram, but no stents. I attended a heart rehabilitation course at my local NHS hospital starting about one month later which lasted a few weeks and I was then discharged back to the GP. Perhaps you should enquire whether these courses are still run (given COVID), for this is exactly the type of question about which you will get informed advice from the cardio healthcare professionals who run such a course.

[firstlight40]

Hello,

I understand the anxiety having an nstemi a year ago and 6 stents myself. To help this I would suggest (from various guidance given to me)

1) following cardiac rehab guidelines about warming up /cooling down before and after exercise. 15 minutes each

2) not exercising alone, or have mobile phone with you at all times, staying away from remote areas, carrying a gtn spray just in case

3) build up exercise gradually

4) keeping your heart rate to no more than 70% of peak (peak roughly being 220- your age)

5) don't stress about particular goals and don't try to race or compete with others

6) over time you will build up confidence in your heart function but there's no rush to get back to your previous fitness level. Even brisk walking for 30 minutes 5 times a week is very good for your heart.

7) and most important check with your gp/cardiac nurse/cardiologist before you start for any other advice, we are not doctors here!

[ChoochSiesta in reply to firstlight40]

That gives me a heart rate of 114. I might as well just wrap myself up in cotton wool for the rest of my life and not bother 🙄.I was doing 130 just before my CABG3. I am hoping for more now that I have been fixed up!

[firstlight40 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Of course, if you've been cleared through cardiac rehab or by tge doctors that's fine. The 70% was the number given to me at the start of rehab. Later my heart got to 105% of peak during my cardiac stress test but I was hooked up to an ecg and a few feet from a resus cart with 2 trained nurses so it's a guideline for sure!

[Heartattackvictim in reply to firstlight40]

Great reply, it's exactly what I would have written. I ran a sub 2 hour half marathon 4 days before the first (aged 59) of my two heart attacks 30 months ago. Now I use Galloway Method of 10 minute walking warm up, and then jog for 8 minutes and walk for 5 minutes (anything from 3 to 6 reps), then a 7 minute walk cook down. At first it's frustrating but it keeps my heart rate in check.

[Hidden]

I was keen on getting back to a normal way of life as quickly as I could.I did quite a bit of research and the rule I adopted was to listen to my body, if I got beyond the point where I could hold a normal conversation then I needed to stop.

I was very pleased to be offered an online rehab course supported by a weekly call from a physiotherapist.

Before the course started she sent me a pulse/oximeter and we set targets for my maximum heart rate whilst exercising.

The course was great and made me realise how hard I could push myself.

[Flowerfanatic]

Hi CardiacKid78 - there’s a wonderful lady who runs online exercise classes via zoom - Angela Hartley of ‘Healthy Hearties’. It is private but honestly SO worth it for anyone post heart related procedures. She is so kind and supportive and gives you guidance too for getting back to exercising and in all other aspects after a major heart event, be it a heart attack or after any kind of heart surgery. All the best to you,

Sarah