Your heart contracts as a result of electrical impulses. When these impulses are interrupted in some way, your heart may begin to experience an irregular rhythm, ranging anywhere from a flutter in your chest to a racing heartbeat. Some people even experience a slower than normal heartbeat. If your doctor decides you need treatment for what's often referred to as an arrhythmia, one option is cardiac ablation.
Ablation
An ablation is a medical procedure where tissue in the heart that's interrupting its electrical impulses is essentially destroyed. A narrow tube called a catheter is fed into the vessel where it can then deliver radio frequency waves to heat an area of affected tissue. Once the tissue is destroyed, the electrical impulses are able to flow freely along their pathways, and your heart begins to beat normally.
Recovery
Recovery can vary from person to person, but most people are able to return to their normal level of activity a few days after the procedure, notes the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If exercise is part of your day-to-day activities, you should be able to incorporate cardio back into your routine at this time. However, you'll likely need to reduce the intensity and duration of your exercise to give your heart adequate time to recover. Start off slowly and gradually increase your level of exercise each day until you're getting at least 30 minutes of moderately intense cardio most days of the week.
Restrictions
It isn't uncommon for medical professionals to recommend exercise restrictions. Depending on your age, health and fitness level, your doctor may advise you to avoid lifting anything heavy or taking part in activities that require running or are strenuous in nature. The length of time you'll need to abide by these guidelines varies from one person to the next, so there isn't a standard time line.
Warning
Though most people recover quickly following cardiac ablation, it's possible to still suffer complications even after returning home. Some people experience a strong or rapid heartbeat, while others may notice some pain, swelling or redness near the procedure site. You may feel faint or experience a large amount of bleeding. In any of these situations, talk to your doctor immediately. You should also contact your doctor if you have shortness of breath, chest pain or a fever over 100 degrees F.
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