FAQ

Many people who experience sudden cardiac arrest have no prior diagnosis — which is part of what makes it so devastating. However, there are warning signs that should always be taken seriously and investigated:

Unexplained fainting, particularly during or immediately after exercise, or in response to a sudden loud noise or fright.

Unexplained seizures that your doctor has not been able to explain with a neurological cause.

Palpitations — a racing, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat — that come on during physical activity.

Significant breathlessness or dizziness during exercise that seems disproportionate to the effort.

A family history of young sudden death — anyone in your family who died suddenly and unexpectedly under the age of 40, or who was found to have an inherited heart condition.

A known inherited cardiac condition in a close relative, even if you have no symptoms yourself.

If any of these apply to you or a family member, do not wait. Speak to your GP about a referral to a cardiologist, or ask specifically about a referral to an inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) clinic. Many inherited heart conditions are highly treatable when identified early.

Yes. Sudden cardiac arrest can affect children and young people, and it is more common than most people realise. It usually happens because of an inherited heart condition that has not been identified — often because the child had no obvious symptoms beforehand.

Conditions that can cause cardiac arrest in children and teenagers include:

CPVT (Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia) — triggered by exercise or sudden fright, often presenting in the first two decades of life.

Long QT Syndrome — which can cause dangerous arrhythmias during exercise, swimming, or in response to sudden loud noise, and sometimes during sleep.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) — the most common inherited heart muscle condition, which can affect young people and is associated with exercise-triggered events.

ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy) — a genetic condition that can affect young adults, particularly those who exercise regularly.

This is one reason why cardiac screening of young athletes, and the families of anyone who has experienced a young sudden death or been diagnosed with an inherited cardiac condition, is so important. If a child in your family has been diagnosed with an inherited heart condition, all first-degree relatives — including siblings — should be assessed by a specialist.

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.

For most people with an ICD, moderate resistance exercise including bench-pressing is not ruled out, but there are important considerations depending on when you were implanted and what your underlying condition is.

In the weeks immediately after implantation, lifting heavy weights is restricted. Sudden forceful use of the pectoral muscle on the side of the device can place stress on the lead before it has fully bedded in, and your clinic will give you specific guidance on arm and shoulder movement during this initial period. Most people are asked to avoid raising the arm on the implant side above the shoulder or lifting anything heavy for four to six weeks.

Once fully healed, whether you can return to weightlifting depends largely on your underlying condition rather than the device itself. High-intensity exercise raises heart rate significantly and in some conditions this can increase arrhythmia risk. Your cardiologist is the right person to advise on what intensity is safe, and an exercise test may be used to assess your individual response.

There is also a practical consideration with heavy pressing movements: repeated significant pressure directly over the device site, or any exercise that causes the device to shift or become uncomfortable, should be discussed with your clinic. A protective vest or pad may help in some situations.

An abdominal implant site may require some additional caution in contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, or football, where there is a risk of a direct blow to the abdomen. Whether specific activities are restricted will depend on your underlying condition and your cardiologist’s advice, not solely on the implant location.

Discuss any sport or physical activity you want to continue or take up with your cardiologist before returning. A body protector or pad worn over the device may be recommended in some circumstances.

It depends on what kind of boxing you mean.

Fitness boxing (bag work, pad work, shadowboxing) is generally considered acceptable for most people with ICDs, provided your cardiologist has cleared you and you’re past your initial recovery period. It’s an effective cardiovascular workout and vigorous exercise alone won’t trigger your device inappropriately.

Contact boxing (sparring or competitive bouts) is a different matter. The primary concern is direct impact to your ICD site, typically the upper left chest. A hard blow to that area could potentially dislodge a lead or damage the device housing. There’s also a broader consideration with contact sports: repeated physical trauma raises your overall risk profile, particularly if your underlying condition involves arrhythmia.

Most cardiologists will advise against competitive or contact boxing. If boxing is important to you, it’s worth having a frank conversation with your cardiology team about the specific type, your underlying condition, and what a safe approach might look like.

If you do train in a boxing gym, specialist protective vests that shield the ICD site are available and worth considering.

For guidance on exercise and returning to physical activity, visit our Exercise After Cardiac Arrest page.

Always discuss contact sports with your cardiologist before taking part.

Yes. Curling will not interfere with your ICD. As with any physical activity after implantation, check with your cardiologist about returning to sport, but most people can resume their usual hobbies once they have fully healed from the procedure.

Yes. A petrol-powered lawn mower requires you to keep at least 30cm (12 inches) between the running ignition system and your ICD. For electric lawn mowers, maintain at least 15cm (6 inches) between the motor and your device. These are the same precautions as for other petrol and electric powered tools.

Yes. Remember to discuss exercise with your doctor, and follow their guidelines based on your own health needs. It’s always best to ease back into a fitness routine. Walk before you jog, jog before you run, etc…

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, particularly if you were not automatically offered one. In the UK, cardiac rehab is most consistently commissioned for people who have had a heart attack, and survivors with no identified cause (idiopathic) or an arrhythmia-related cause are sometimes not offered it. Be persistent.

For full guidance on returning to physical activity, see our Exercise After Cardiac Arrest page.

Yes. Swimming is safe with an ICD once you have fully healed from the implant procedure. Most people are advised to avoid swimming for around four to six weeks after implantation to allow the wound site to heal properly and to reduce the risk of lead dislodgement while the leads are bedding in.

After recovery, there are no specific restrictions on swimming for most ICD patients. If you swim in open water, it is sensible to go with a companion, as it is with any open water swimming.

If your cardiac arrest was caused by an inherited condition such as CPVT or Long QT Syndrome, where exercise or cold water can trigger arrhythmias, discuss specific restrictions with your cardiologist.