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Monday 9:30am - 5pm Tuesday 9:30am - 7pm Wednesday 9:30am - 7pm Thursday 9:30am - 7pm

Heart Works, 202 Thorndon Quay, Wellington (2026)

24/02/2026

Many people taking heart medications notice that their heart rate doesn’t rise as expected during exercise. This is a normal and intended effect of medications such as beta blockers and certain rhythm-controlling drugs, which are prescribed to reduce cardiac workload and improve safety.
Because of this, heart rate alone isn’t always a reliable indicator of exercise intensity.

A more accurate approach is to consider heart rate alongside perceived exertion — how hard the activity feels. When medications blunt the heart rate response, a steady effort that feels moderately challenging can still provide meaningful cardiovascular benefit.

Arrhythmias can further influence heart rate readings, making them more variable or less predictable. In these situations, perceived exertion and symptom awareness often provide a clearer picture of true exercise tolerance. Rather than chasing specific numbers, focusing on effort, comfort, and recovery supports safe, effective, and sustainable progress.

23/02/2026

Exercise prescription: volume and intensity both matter

When it comes to exercise, outcomes aren’t just about doing more — they’re about how much, how hard, and how consistently you train. The exercise science literature is clear that both volume (how much you do) and intensity (how hard you work) play distinct and complementary roles in health outcomes.

Research shows that exercise volume is strongly associated with overall health benefits, including reduced cardiovascular risk, improved metabolic health, and lower mortality. Simply put, moving more — across the week — matters.

At the same time, exercise intensity is a key driver of fitness adaptations. Higher-intensity exercise is particularly effective for improving aerobic capacity (VO₂max), muscular strength, and functional performance. VO₂max, in particular, is one of the strongest predictors of long-term cardiovascular and all-cause health outcomes.

Importantly, the best results are seen when volume and intensity are combined thoughtfully. Lower-to-moderate intensity exercise supports consistency and endurance, while appropriately prescribed higher-intensity work provides a strong stimulus for adaptation.

The takeaway from the literature is simple:
➡️ Exercise should be prescribed, not random.
➡️ Both volume and intensity matter — and the “right” balance depends on the individual.

19/02/2026

Why consistent exercise habits matter after a cardiovascular event

Emerging evidence continues to highlight the importance of maintaining—or adopting—regular exercise habits following a cardiovascular event. A large observational study of older adults found that individuals who either maintained physical activity or became active after a cardiac event had significantly lower mortality risk compared with those who remained inactive or stopped exercising altogether (Lee et al., 2022).

Importantly, the findings reinforce that long-term outcomes are linked not to extreme efforts, but to sustained behaviour. Even moderate, consistent activity performed regularly was associated with better survival, while loss of exercise habits after an event was linked with poorer outcomes.

Recovery after a cardiac event is not just about short-term gains. It is about building habits that are realistic, repeatable, and sustainable over time. This research supports what we see clinically—confidence, health, and resilience are built through steady participation rather than all-or-nothing approaches.

Consistency matters. And small, repeatable actions can have a meaningful impact on long-term heart health.

Reference: Lee et al., Associations between exercise habit changes following an incident cardiovascular event and mortality in older adults, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2022.

18/02/2026

SCAD Heart Attack Awareness Week ❤️

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is an important and distinct cause of acute coronary syndrome. Unlike atherosclerotic heart attacks caused by plaque rupture, SCAD involves a spontaneous tear or intramural haematoma within the coronary artery wall, reducing blood flow to the myocardium.

SCAD predominantly affects women and is often seen in individuals without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. It has recognised associations with fibromuscular dysplasia, pregnancy and the peripartum period, connective tissue disorders, and significant emotional or physical stress. For many, the diagnosis can feel unexpected and difficult to process.

Recovery following SCAD requires a considered and individualised approach. Cardiac rehabilitation plays a central role, with exercise prescription carefully tailored to the individual, close monitoring of blood pressure and symptoms, and gradual, structured progression. Psychological recovery is equally important. Fear of recurrence, uncertainty around exertion, and loss of confidence in the body are common experiences that deserve acknowledgement and support.

SCAD Heart Attack Awareness Week reminds us that not all myocardial infarctions are the same. Recognition, informed management, and specialised rehabilitation are essential to supporting safe recovery and long-term cardiovascular health.

To those living with SCAD, recovery is not about rushing or proving capacity. It is about rebuilding strength with knowledge, progressing with guidance, and restoring confidence step by step.

Awareness builds understanding.
Understanding builds confidence.

15/02/2026

Life is full of deadlines and responsibilities that can easily push exercise down the priority list. But your heart health deserves to stay near the top.

When you commit to regular movement, you’re not just ticking off a workout — you’re building the energy, strength, and resilience needed to meet those demands with greater confidence. Consistency in caring for your health supports everything else you do.

Your to-do list will always be there. Protecting your health ensures you’re able to keep showing up for it.

12/02/2026

Psychological Recovery After a Cardiac Event Matters

Recovery after a cardiac event isn’t only physical.
Fear, anxiety and loss of confidence in the body are very common after a heart diagnosis or hospital admission. These responses are normal — but if left unaddressed they can affect activity levels, engagement in recovery, wellbeing and long-term heart health.

Cardiac rehabilitation plays an important role in supporting psychological recovery through structured exercise, clear education and clinical guidance. Understanding how the heart responds to activity, interpreting symptoms, and rebuilding trust in movement helps reduce uncertainty and fear. Research shows that people who complete structured cardiac rehab programmes often experience significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms — by up to around 50% — compared with before rehabilitation, and improvements in overall emotional wellbeing.

Over time, this combination of structure and knowledge supports confidence, emotional wellbeing and a sense of control — all essential parts of long-term heart health.

During , it’s important to recognise that cardiac rehabilitation supports the whole person — not just the heart muscle.

Lavie CJ, Milani RV. Effects of cardiac rehabilitation on psychological risk factors. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention

12/02/2026

What cardiac rehabilitation actually looks like at Heartworks.

For many people, cardiac rehabilitation can feel unclear — or even intimidating.
After a heart event or diagnosis, uncertainty about what’s safe can make movement feel daunting.

But this is what cardiac rehabilitation actually looks like.

It’s not about pushing limits or seeing how hard you can work.
It’s a structured, supervised programme that combines exercise, education, and support — helping people move safely and rebuild confidence.

Exercise is individualised and guided, taking into account medical history, medications, and how the heart responds to activity. Progression is gradual and purposeful, allowing people to understand their bodies, trust their responses, and return to everyday life with greater confidence.

Education is a key part of the process too. Knowing what’s happening, what’s safe, and why reduces fear and replaces uncertainty with clarity and control.

Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to reduce uncertainty — not create it.
Through consistency, connection, and safe progression, it supports confidence, capability, and long-term heart health.

During , it’s worth reinforcing that cardiac rehabilitation is about recovering with confidence — one step at a time.

11/02/2026

Cardiac rehabilitation is a treatment — not an add-on

Cardiac rehabilitation is a core component of secondary prevention after a heart event, yet it is still not consistently embedded in routine cardiac care.

Evidence continues to show that participation in structured, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation is associated with fewer hospital admissions, a lower risk of future cardiac events, and improved quality of life — even alongside modern medical treatment. These benefits extend well beyond the hospital stay, supporting recovery in the community rather than repeated reliance on acute care.

When cardiac rehabilitation is underused, recovery becomes fragmented. The focus shifts toward responding to events as they occur, rather than supporting long-term heart health through sustained, preventive care. This has implications not only for individual recovery, but also for the ongoing pressure placed on the healthcare system.

This , it’s worth reinforcing that cardiac rehabilitation should be viewed and delivered as a treatment in its own right — essential for confident recovery, reduced avoidable hospital admissions, and long-term heart health.

European Heart Journal — Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/6/452/7028725

10/02/2026

Cardiac rehabilitation is not a short-term intervention.

Cardiac rehabilitation is often spoken about as something people complete. In reality, it plays a much bigger role than a single phase of recovery.

After a heart event or diagnosis, many people regain strength, feel better, and are discharged from formal care. These are important milestones — but they don’t mean the work of protecting heart health is finished. Heart disease is frequently a long-term condition, and risk does not disappear once symptoms improve.

This is where cardiac rehabilitation has its greatest impact. Well-designed programmes support people to move safely, understand how their heart responds to exercise, build confidence in their bodies, and develop sustainable lifestyle habits over time. The benefits come not from quick fixes, but from consistency, education, and ongoing support.

At HeartWorks, we see cardiac rehabilitation as a foundation for lifelong heart health. Some people engage early in recovery. Others continue longer term to maintain the confidence, habits, and knowledge they’ve built. Both approaches matter.

During , it’s worth remembering that cardiac rehabilitation isn’t just about getting people back on their feet — it’s about helping them stay well, long after the hospital stay is over.

09/02/2026

Heart disease remains one of New Zealand’s most significant health challenges.

According to Ministry of Health data (2025), around 196,000 people in Aotearoa are currently living with heart disease. Cardiovascular disease continues to account for almost one in three deaths nationwide, and every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from heart disease — many of these deaths are premature and preventable.

These figures highlight that heart disease does not affect individuals alone. It affects whānau, workplaces, and communities across the country.

While treatments such as stents and surgery address acute events, they do not remove the underlying disease or eliminate future risk. This is where cardiac rehabilitation plays a critical role. Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the most effective tools we have for secondary prevention. It supports recovery beyond hospital discharge through structured exercise, education, risk-factor management, and confidence-building — all essential for long-term heart health.

During , it’s important to recognise that cardiac rehabilitation is not just about the weeks following a cardiac event. It’s about supporting people to live healthier, more confident lives well into the future.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in New Zealand — and cardiac rehabilitation is one of the strongest evidence-based strategies we have to reduce its impact.

08/02/2026

Nutrition ≠ Perfection ❤️

Heart-healthy eating doesn’t require extremes, rigid rules, or cutting out foods you enjoy.
What truly supports heart health is the overall pattern over time — eating regularly, including a variety of nourishing foods, and allowing flexibility for social events, busy days, and changing routines.

Chasing perfection often leads to stress, guilt, or inconsistency. A calmer, more sustainable approach — one that fits real life — is far more effective for long-term heart health.
Progress comes from what you do most days, not what happens occasionally.

Balance, consistency, and confidence matter more than strict control.

05/02/2026

Evidence Reinforces the Value of Cardiac Rehabilitation ❤️

A major meta-analysis published in the European Heart Journal reviewed data from more than 23,000 people with coronary heart disease and confirmed the powerful benefits of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation.

The research showed that people who participated in cardiac rehab had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular death, fewer hospital admissions, and a reduced chance of future heart attacks compared with those who did not attend. Importantly, these benefits were seen alongside modern medical treatment, highlighting that cardiac rehabilitation remains a critical part of long-term heart care — not an optional extra.

Beyond reducing clinical events, cardiac rehab was also associated with better quality of life, supporting both physical recovery and overall wellbeing.

The message is clear: structured, supervised cardiac rehabilitation plays a vital role in recovery after coronary heart disease and supports healthier outcomes well beyond hospital discharge.

📖 European Heart Journal — Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/6/452/7028725

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Monday	9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 7pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 7pm
Thursday	9:30am - 7pm