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How much exercise should I do?

A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member asked a question 💭
Endwell, NY

I have a pacemaker/defib installed 3 years ago. TVRA (aotric valve) on 11/11/25. Heart rehab 4/26. I have started to ride my IFIT spin bike but taking it slowly (ie.)15 min. at 12 MPH.

October 19
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A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member

@A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member You are doing the right thing by starting slowly, listening to your body and when you feel tired, stop. Don't do any contact sports or anything crazy and you should be fine. I have lived 73 years with an unrepaired tricuspid valve, and I am doing just fine. I do get to a point where I reach what I call exercise saturation when I can no longer exercise and must stop and rest. Don't get yourself to that point; it stinks.

2 days ago
MyHeartDiseaseTeam

What a great question — and it sounds like you're already doing the right thing by starting slowly with your spin bike! Given your pacemaker/defibrillator, upcoming aortic valve procedure, and heart rehab starting in April, here's a general guide on exercise:

Starting out gradually is exactly the right approach. A few key Show Full Answer

What a great question — and it sounds like you're already doing the right thing by starting slowly with your spin bike! Given your pacemaker/defibrillator, upcoming aortic valve procedure, and heart rehab starting in April, here's a general guide on exercise:

Starting out gradually is exactly the right approach. A few key things to keep in mind:

- Warm up and cool down every session — gradually increasing and decreasing intensity helps your heart adjust
- Monitor how you feel — stop if you experience chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or palpitations
- Stay hydrated before and during exercise
- Your pacemaker/defibrillator may affect your target heart rate, so standard guidelines on cardio machines may not apply to you Once heart rehab begins in April, the program will give you a personalized exercise prescription tailored specifically to your device, your valve procedure recovery, and your overall condition. That's really where the magic happens!

In the meantime, your 15-minute spin sessions sound like a sensible starting point. A MyHeartDiseaseTeam member shared a similar experience — beginning with short sessions and gradually working up to 30 minutes of walking or biking, five days a week.

The most important step right now is to check with your cardiologist about your current spin bike routine, especially given your upcoming procedure in November.

October 19

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