Exercise - if a previous myocardial infarction (MI)

NICE have given guidance concerning physical exercise following a myocardial infarction (1):

• patients are advised to undertake regular physical activity sufficient to increase exercise capacity
• amount and level of physical exercise:
  • advised to be physically active for 20-30 minutes a day to the point of slight breathlessness. Patients who are not achieving this should be advised to increase their activity in a gradual, step-by-step way, aiming to increase their exercise capacity. They should start at a level that is comfortable, and increase the duration and intensity of activity as they gain fitness

Notes:

• advice on physical activity should involve a discussion about current and past activity levels and preferences. The benefit of exercise may be enhanced by tailored advice from a suitably qualified professional
• in patients with ischaemic stroke, heart failure or acute myocardial infarction, maintaining regular exercise was associated with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death (2)

Reference:

1. NICE (May 2007). Secondary prevention in primary and secondary care for patients following a myocardial infarction
2. Kang D, Sung J, Kim D, et al.Association between exercise habit changes and mortality following a cardiovascular event.Heart Published Online First: 19 May 2022. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-320882