Exercise and Heart Disease and plenty of heart exercise whilst you are at it. Years ago when someone had suffered from a heart attack the hospital advised them to go home and rest so I thought happy days two months off work watching Cold Case and House. But nooooo that was years ago, these days thanks to many years of study it has been proven that after a heart attack the best thing to do is get in some good exercise, not right away like, bit by bit.

Always take care not to over exert yourself at this very first stage.

 Ok I am going to take you through my experiences after the heart attack and how to get yourself fully fit without putting yourself back in hospital again. The hospital actually encourage you to walk about the day after your heart attack and whilst you are in their care they encourage you to attend their rehab day care centre for one hour a week to be taught what way to exercise but that wouldn't be until 6 weeks after my release.

My first venture out was about 10 days after my heart attack and that was for a 30 minute walk and the first thing I noticed was a slow increasing headache like blood pumping from my heart to my head but after a few days this went away. After a week and with a heart monitor strapped to my chest I was feeling much fitter and had increased my walks to an hour, twas really good. By the way the heart monitor is linked to a watch on your wrist that shows both your heartbeat and blood pressure and I jest you not when I say if your heartbeat goes over a certain limit an alarm goes off. Now trust me that was both fun and scary at the same time.

After 6 weeks I was back at work and all ready for my hour out to attend rehab, for my heart that is. On arriving I was a little worried because I wasn't sure what to expect and I was going to be meeting a bunch of strangers, I am a really shy guy. I forgot to mention in my other hubs before the heart attack I had a beer belly, surprise, surprise, and weighed 14 stones but within a week of having the heart attack I was down to 12 and a half stone. The fear of dying is without doubt the best diet in the world, but after the 6 weeks walking I was now 12 stone.

 On arriving I was met by two really pretty nurses, not sure if all these nurses I met were actually that pretty or at my age perhaps desperation was setting in. Anyway I was there, t-shirt, track bottoms and trainers along with 8 other heart attack victims. Only thing was most were aged 65-80 so I felt right out of place, damn well made me look like a spring chicken in the remake of that movie Cocoon.

But after getting to talk to them and their past experiences and asking them questions it felt good to share my experience with them, like a release. And then we were all asked to form a circle by the 2 nurses and do a basic stretch and warm up program. This went on for about 20 minutes and then we went on to the main cardio exercises.

All the usual suspects were there, the exercise bicycles, the steppers, the rowing machines, a damn exercise ball and of course the mini trampoline. Ok hands up if you know which one is the best for cardiac exercise and heart exercise. Anyone that said the mini trampoline has just won a weekend in Ireland as my guest for a good night out. Anyway I got bored with travelling back and forward to the rehab, I decided to do my own heart exercises.

Jeeez I hate parting with money but I bought a side stepper for £40 and I also bought a mini trampoline for only £20, like come on even though I am a tight bugger you have to admit £60 is a small price for to pay to keep you on God's earth. I then decided to set out my own heart exercise plan and this worked really well and you now see a 12 stone, lean, mean fighting machine. But let's go back to my exercise and heart disease plan, what was it you ask?

Well each night when I got home from work and just before my meal I was on the side stepper for about 15 minutes and really gave it everything I had, making sure obviously that I didn't overly exert myself. Sweat poured down my face, neck and back and my heart was beating like a drum. Now the thing is this is the best exercise for the heart, short and fast to get the heart pounding and then you can tell if your heart is getting better by it's recovery time, in otherwords how long it took to go back to it's normal rhythm and mine was perfect.

After my meal I relax for about an hour, just like I am doing now and then it's grab my ipod and off out for an hours walk, or if there is football on a half hours walk. Walking is a great exercise in that it's so good for you mentally if you are feeling down or depressed, it just fills you with a feeling of wellbeing and energy.

My last exercise is of course my baby and my pride and joy, my mini trampoline. God I love bouncing up and down at full force, I like my trampoline as well !! That's one main factor after a heart attack, keep your sense of humor and see life differently, don't let silly little things annoy you. But back to the trampoline, it is one hell of a heart exercise and I defy anyone to use it for longer than 20 minutes. My record is just over 15 minutes and you don't just bounce on it, you jog up and down and do exercises from leg to leg, without a doubt the trampoline is the best cardiac exercise you can do.

And that my friends is how Art has gone from a beer bellied 14 stone heart attack victim to a 12 stone hunk of fit heart muscle. Tis an Art to having a heart of gold but Tis an even bigger Art to having a heart with a strong muscle. Follow the above and if you have had a heart attack this will benefit you and if you haven't had a heart attack this will protect you. I thank you for your read, I wish you well and stay safe.

I will return in my last hub in this heart series with Life After A Heart Attack tomorrow.