90 Minutes of Weekly Exercise Cuts Heart Relapse Risk 50%

Staying active after heart rhythm treatment could be the key to keeping your heart beating steady for the long haul.

New research from the University of Colorado Anschutz shows that adults who exercised moderately for 90 minutes each week after catheter ablation treatment had nearly 50% fewer relapses of atrial fibrillation. That's just 30 minutes, three times a week, doing activities like brisk walking, swimming, cycling, or yard work.

Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, affects millions worldwide and raises the risk of stroke, heart failure, and repeated hospital stays. Catheter ablation restores normal heart rhythm, but the condition often returns even after successful treatment, leaving patients and doctors frustrated.

Dr. Lohit Garg and his team tracked 163 adults who underwent the procedure, using wearable devices to monitor their activity levels. They wanted to know if simple lifestyle choices could make a difference when medications and procedures weren't enough.

The results were striking. After accounting for age, medications, and heart structure, those who met the American Heart Association's recommended 90 minutes of weekly moderate activity saw their AFib recurrence rates drop dramatically. Even as little as 15 minutes most days of the week made a difference.

Why This Inspires

This study hands real power back to patients. While medications and procedures remain important, exercise is something people can control themselves, and it costs nothing.

The benefits extend beyond heart rhythm too. Regular activity improves blood pressure, sleep quality, mood, and weight management. All of these factors help keep the heart stable and reduce the chance of AFib returning.

For the millions living with atrial fibrillation, the message is refreshingly simple. Recovery isn't just about what happens in the treatment room. What you do afterward, in small daily doses, can meaningfully shape your long-term health.

Dr. Garg emphasizes that patients should always consult their healthcare provider before starting any exercise routine, especially after a heart procedure. But for those who get the green light, a brisk walk around the neighborhood three times a week might be one of the most powerful prescriptions available.

It's a rare win in modern medicine: an intervention that's free, accessible to most people, and backed by solid science.