Exercise after a heart attack can save a life

Becoming physically active after a heart attack can save your life, according to a study conducted by the European Society of Cardiology.

“It is well known that physically active people are less likely to have a heart attack and more likely to live longer,” said lead author Örjan Ekblom. “However, we did not know the impact of exercise on people after a heart attack.”

This study assessed the association between physical activity and survival after a heart attack. It included 22,227 patients in Sweden who had a myocardial infarction between 2005 and 2013.

Levels of physical activity were reported 6-10 weeks and 12 months after the heart attack. The difference between answers was considered a change in physical activity over the year following the heart attack.

On both occasions, patients were asked how many times they had exercised for 30 minutes or longer during the previous seven days.

The study has been presented at EuroPrevent 2018, a European Society of Cardiology Congress.