What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary disease describes conditions where the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, affecting blood flow.

This includes:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) – plaque buildup in the heart arteries

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) – when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked

• Coronary interventions – including stents, angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)

Symptoms vary — some people experience chest discomfort, fatigue, or shortness of breath, while others may notice minimal or no symptoms.

These conditions and procedures can affect heart function and exercise capacity, highlighting the importance of safe, guided activity once medically cleared.

Find the right guide for your recovery

If you've had a procedure or event and you're wondering about exercise and recovery, the right guidance depends on exactly what you've experienced — recovery looks a little different for each. Choose the guide that matches your situation:

• Exercise After a Heart Stent — for a stent or angioplasty procedure

• Exercise After a Heart Attack — if you've had a heart attack, including if a stent was placed at the same time

• Exercise After Bypass Surgery (CABG) — for coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Our support and exercise approach

Our exercise physiology support focuses on helping you remain active safely, build cardiovascular fitness, and recover with confidence after a coronary event or procedure. This includes:

• Individually prescribed exercise that respects your cardiac history, symptoms and medical guidance

• Gradual, structured aerobic and resistance programs to improve cardiovascular fitness and functional capacity

• Education on safe exercise, symptom awareness and recovery strategies

• Ongoing review and adaptation as your fitness, confidence or medical guidance changes

• Support specific to stents, CABG or heart attack recovery

• A collaborative approach with your healthcare team, so exercise and lifestyle strategies align with your broader care plan

We offer this support through 1:1 Exercise Physiology, Clinical Pilates or small group classes — whichever fits where you are right now.

If you've recently finished a structured hospital cardiac rehab program, you might also find it useful to read Finished Cardiac Rehab? Here's What Comes Next.