FAQ

Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) is a structured programme combining exercise, education, and psychological support to help people recover after a cardiac event such as a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or heart surgery. It is delivered by a multidisciplinary team and is typically offered as a course of weekly sessions over 6–8 weeks.

If you have survived a cardiac arrest, cardiac rehabilitation is recommended and you should be offered a referral by your cardiac team or GP. Evidence shows that it reduces mortality, improves cardiovascular fitness, reduces anxiety and depression, and helps people return to work and normal activities with greater confidence.

Cardiac rehab programmes typically include supervised, gradually increasing physical exercise tailored to your individual fitness and heart condition; education sessions covering topics such as medications, diet, managing risk factors, and understanding your condition; and psychological support addressing anxiety, mood, and adjustment to life after a cardiac event.

If you have not been referred to cardiac rehabilitation, ask your GP or cardiologist. Some programmes are also available online or as hybrid models. The British Heart Foundation’s Cardiac Rehab service finder can help you locate programmes near you.

Several routes to psychological support are available after cardiac arrest.

Your GP is the first point of contact. They can assess your mental health, prescribe medication if appropriate, and refer you to talking therapy. In England, NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) provides free CBT, counselling, and other therapies, usually without a long wait. You can also self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies online without going through your GP first.

Your cardiac team may also be able to refer you to a clinical psychologist or cardiac rehabilitation programme. Cardiac rehabilitation often includes a psychological component alongside exercise and education, and is recommended for cardiac arrest survivors.

For more specialist support — for example, if you have complex PTSD, severe depression, or significant cognitive impairment — your GP can refer you to community mental health services or a neuropsychologist.

Peer support — connecting with other survivors and co-survivors who understand the experience from the inside — is highly valued by many people after cardiac arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK can connect you with peer support resources and a community of people who have been through similar experiences.

For co-survivors, the same routes apply. You do not need to have been the patient to deserve psychological support.

Recovery from cardiac arrest is highly individual, but most survivors experience recovery as a gradual process that continues for 12 months or more — not a single moment of being "better."

Physical recovery from the cardiac arrest itself and any procedures (such as ICD implantation) typically takes weeks. Cognitive recovery — improvements in memory, concentration, and mental fatigue — often continues over the first year, with many survivors noticing meaningful improvement month by month. Psychological recovery, including processing the trauma of the event and adjusting to life with an ICD, can take longer and is not always linear.

Factors that affect the pace and extent of recovery include how long the brain was without oxygen during the arrest, how quickly CPR and defibrillation were given, the underlying cause of the arrest, age and general health, and access to rehabilitation and psychological support.

It is important not to compare your recovery to someone else’s. Many survivors make an excellent recovery and return to work, exercise, and a full life. Others are left with lasting cognitive or physical effects that require longer-term support and adjustment. Both experiences are valid.

If you feel that your recovery is not progressing or that you are struggling with the psychological impact, talk to your GP or cardiac team. Cardiac rehabilitation, neuropsychological support, and talking therapies can all play a role.

Yes. Exercise is actively encouraged for most people with ICDs. Physical activity supports heart health, mental wellbeing, and recovery. An ICD is not implanted to limit you — it is there to protect you if a dangerous arrhythmia occurs.

The type and intensity of exercise that is appropriate depends on your underlying condition and your cardiologist’s guidance. Most people can resume moderate exercise such as walking, swimming, and cycling after a full recovery from the implant procedure. Some may be advised to avoid very high-intensity exercise or competitive sport, particularly if they have an exercise-triggered arrhythmia condition.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an excellent starting point for rebuilding fitness safely after cardiac arrest or ICD implantation. Ask your GP or cardiac team for a referral.