Why Exercise is Essential for Heart Health — Even with Heart Disease

Life is Movement | Brighton & Hove

If you've been diagnosed with heart disease, it's completely natural to feel cautious about exercise. Many people worry that moving too much—or too hard—might put them at risk. But here’s the truth: when done properly, exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting and strengthening the heart.

At Life is Movement Clinic in Brighton & Hove, we work with people living with heart disease every day. And we’ve seen first-hand how the right movement, at the right pace, can build strength, confidence, and long-term heart health.

Let’s Talk Science (in Simple Terms)

When you move your body, especially with structured, steady activity, you’re not just working your muscles—you’re training your heart.

Here’s what happens when you exercise:

🫀 Your Heart Becomes More Efficient

Think of your heart like an engine. With regular cardio (even low intensity!), the engine gets more efficient. That means it can pump more blood with each beat, reducing strain and working smarter, not harder.

🩸 Your Blood Vessels Become More Flexible

Movement encourages your arteries to stay stretchy and open, helping blood flow more freely. This lowers your blood pressure and reduces the risk of clots—one of the major causes of heart attacks.

💉 You Improve Cholesterol and Blood Sugar

Exercise raises HDL (your “good” cholesterol), lowers harmful LDL, and helps manage blood sugar levels—three major factors in managing and preventing heart disease.

🔥 You Reduce Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a hidden driver behind many heart problems. Movement helps to dial that down, like turning down the heat on a simmering pot.

🧠 You Boost Mood and Lower Stress

Let’s not forget the emotional side: exercise releases endorphins and helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol. Since stress and depression can worsen heart disease, this is vital.

The Danger of Doing Nothing

One of the biggest mistakes people make after a heart diagnosis is avoiding exercise altogether. But inactivity is not protection—it’s a risk.

Muscles weaken. Blood pressure creeps up. Weight gain, fatigue, and emotional stress take hold. Over time, the heart actually becomes less resilient.

Think of it this way: if your body were a car, parking it in the garage for months wouldn't protect it—it would lead to rust and breakdown. The key is to keep the engine running… just at the right speed and with the right maintenance.

How We Help at Life is Movement — Brighton & Hove

We specialise in clinical exercise therapy, combining expert physiotherapy knowledge with customised movement programs. Whether you're post-surgery, managing a diagnosis, or just want to move safely, we create heart-friendly exercise plans that meet you where you are.

✅ No guesswork
✅ No high-risk moves
✅ Just smart, science-based guidance that helps you feel stronger and more confident, one step at a time

Ready to Take Care of Your Heart?

If you're in Brighton or Hove and living with heart disease, don’t let fear hold you back. Get in touch today to book a 1:1 consultation, and let’s start building your heart health together—safely, gently, and with expert support.

👉 Click here to book your initial assessment

Because life is movement—and the better you move, the better your heart can live.