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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)

12/03/2026

Understanding Heart Rate, Stroke Volume, and Cardiac Output ❤️

When we talk about improving heart health, three key concepts sit at the centre of cardiovascular physiology: heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output.

Heart rate is simply how many times your heart beats per minute. It’s the rhythm we often see on a monitor during exercise.
Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat.
Cardiac output is the total amount of blood your heart pumps each minute. It is calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume.

In simple terms:
Heart Rate × Stroke Volume = Cardiac Output

During exercise, your muscles need more oxygen. To meet this demand, your heart increases cardiac output. It can do this by beating faster, pumping more blood with each beat, or — ideally — both.
In the early stages of exercise, stroke volume rises as the heart fills more effectively and contracts more strongly. As intensity increases further, heart rate becomes the main driver of additional cardiac output.

In individuals taking certain heart medications, heart rate may not rise as much. This does not mean exercise is ineffective. The body can still improve stroke volume and overall efficiency with structured, progressive training.

Understanding these relationships helps explain why exercise prescription is individualised in cardiac rehabilitation. We are not simply chasing a number on a monitor — we are supporting the heart to pump more efficiently and safely over time.

10/03/2026

Anxiety, Low Mood, and Uncertainty After a Heart Event — You’re Not Alone

After a heart event or diagnosis, many people experience fear, anxiety, low mood, or uncertainty about what’s safe and possible. These emotional responses are normal — but if left unaddressed, they can affect activity levels, confidence, quality of life, and long-term recovery.

What’s encouraging is that there’s growing evidence showing that exercise can be one of the most powerful treatments for anxiety and depression, with benefits that are often comparable to traditional therapies such as medication or psychological counselling. In a comprehensive review published in *The British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that a wide range of physical activities — from aerobic exercises to group-based programmes — consistently reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression across diverse populations. For many people, supervised, social or structured exercise programmes had especially strong effects on wellbeing.

Cardiac rehabilitation plays a key role here. It’s not only about rebuilding physical capacity, it’s also about supporting emotional wellbeing and reducing uncertainty. Through guided movement, education and connection with others who understand the recovery journey, people often regain confidence, understanding and resilience.

You are not alone in how you feel — and pathways that support both emotional and physical recovery are an important part of healing.

Singh, B., et al. (2026). Exercise as treatment for depression and anxiety: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. British Journal of Sports Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-110301

07/03/2026

Let’s Talk Women’s Health — Including Heart Health

On International Women’s Day, conversations about equity must include cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women globally. In Aotearoa New Zealand, it continues to be a major cause of mortality among women (Ministry of Health NZ, 2025). Yet heart disease is still often perceived as a predominantly “male” condition.

Women may experience different or less typical symptoms during a cardiac event — including fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, jaw or back pain — which can contribute to delays in recognition and treatment.

Research also shows that women are less likely to be referred to or attend cardiac rehabilitation, despite strong evidence that structured, exercise-based rehabilitation reduces mortality and improves long-term outcomes (Anderson et al., 2016).

Awareness matters. Early recognition matters. Access to evidence-based prevention and recovery matters.

Supporting women’s heart health isn’t just about responding to illness — it’s about empowering women to move, live, and lead with confidence at every stage of life.

Anderson, L., Thompson, D. R., Oldridge, N., Zwisler, A. D., Rees, K., Martin, N., & Taylor, R. S. (2016). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. Cochrane

05/03/2026

Thank You for Joining Our First HeartWorks Education Evening of 2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our first HeartWorks Education Evening of the year. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout and to have thoughtful discussions around medications, exercise response, and cholesterol management.

We had Sam Bowman speaking about beta blockers and exercise, and Dr Alex Sasse sharing insights on cholesterol and medications. These conversations play an important role in helping people better understand their treatment and how it connects with exercise and long-term heart health.

Our education evenings are designed to be practical, welcoming, and grounded in evidence — creating a space where people can ask questions, learn something new, and feel more confident managing their heart health.

If you weren’t able to attend this session, don’t worry. A recording from the evening will be uploaded to HeartWorks Live shortly, and we’ll let members know as soon as it’s available to watch.

Thank you again to everyone who came along and helped make it such a great start to our 2026 education series.

03/03/2026

“Getting him back to his life.”

Sometimes the most meaningful feedback comes not only from the person in rehabilitation — but from the people who walk alongside them.

This message came from a family member, reflecting on the journey of recovery after a cardiac event. It’s a reminder that cardiac rehabilitation extends far beyond exercise sessions.
It’s about restoring independence. Rebuilding confidence. Supporting families.

At Heartworks, we see every day how structured, clinically supervised rehabilitation can help someone return not just to activity — but to the life that matters to them.
We’re proud to play a part in that journey.

02/03/2026

Why adequate protein supports strength and independence 💪❤️

Protein plays a central role in preserving muscle mass, supporting tissue repair, and maintaining metabolic health — all of which are critical for long-term heart health and functional independence.
Following a cardiac event, periods of reduced activity can accelerate muscle loss. Without adequate protein intake, it becomes harder to rebuild strength, maintain balance, and support exercise tolerance.

Research consistently shows that sufficient daily protein intake helps maintain lean muscle mass, supports recovery from exercise, and improves functional capacity — particularly in midlife and older adults.

Including a quality protein source at each meal (e.g., eggs, fish, lean meats, dairy, legumes, or tofu) helps distribute intake evenly across the day, which appears to optimise muscle protein synthesis.

Strong muscles support safe movement, independence and quality of life.

26/02/2026

Safety Matters at HeartWorks ❤️

Open communication plays a key role in safe and effective cardiac rehabilitation. Letting us know how you’re feeling allows the Heartworks team to adjust sessions appropriately, support your recovery, and reduce unnecessary risk.

Pushing through discomfort isn’t progress — listening to your body is. Building confidence in your recovery starts with exercising safely and with the right guidance.

We’re always here to support you.

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.

Heart Works

12/03/2026

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