Exercises after you’ve had a heart attack

There must be readers who are unaware of the local exercise group approved and supported by the British Heart Foundation, for people who have had a heart attack or heart surgery, or who have other heart problems.

Burnley and Pendle Heart 4 Life Group runs an evening cardiac exercise session at Burnley General Hospital. The group is small and members are very friendly; they support and encourage one another. Sessions are supervised by a chartered physiotherapist and consist of a gentle aerobic warm up and mobility, strength and cardiovascular exercises. Activities are tailored to suit different levels of fitness, and take account of varying physical ability.

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Members are encouraged to monitor their heart rate throughout the session, and the exercises are always both purposeful and fun. Anyone interested is welcome to come along a couple of times on a trial basis, to see if it is right for them; if they like what they find, they will be given a letter seeking approval from their GP before joining.