Exercise and the Heart: A Cardiologist's Perspective on Staying Active
From marathon training to cardiac rehabilitation — how structured physical activity protects the cardiovascular system and supports recovery after intervention.
Regular physical activity is among the most powerful interventions in cardiovascular medicine. It lowers blood pressure, improves lipid profiles, enhances insulin sensitivity, and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Exercise After a Cardiac Event
Patients who have undergone coronary intervention or device implantation should follow a structured cardiac rehabilitation programme. Supervised exercise allows safe progression from light activity to more vigorous training, with continuous monitoring of symptoms and haemodynamics.
As someone who has completed the Oxfam Trailwalker 100 km event, I believe in practising what we preach — exercise is not merely advice we give patients, but a commitment we share.