Living With a Heart Condition: Work, Travel and Daily Life
Living with a heart condition: what you can and cannot do
Most people whose heart condition has been diagnosed, treated and is stable can carry on working, travelling, being active and enjoying family life. What is safe for you depends on your diagnosis, how well it is controlled, your treatment and your test results, so this page is a starting point for your own questions, not a substitute for personal advice.
The questions people ask most
- Can I drive, and do I need to tell the DVLA?
- When can I go back to work, and what help is available?
- Is it safe to fly or travel abroad?
- How much exercise is safe, and which symptoms mean I should stop?
- What about sex, mood and everyday habits after a heart problem?
- Which symptoms mean I should get help straight away?
The sections below answer each of these in plain English. For an answer about your own heart, a consultation with a cardiologist is the way to get personal advice.
Driving with a heart condition
Whether you can drive, and whether you must tell the DVLA, depends on your condition and on your licence group. Some heart conditions must be reported to the DVLA, some mean you stop driving for a set period without needing to report, and many do not affect driving once treated and stable. The rules for bus, coach and lorry licences (Group 2) are much stricter than for cars and motorcycles (Group 1).
When to stop driving and get advice
Stop driving and get medical advice if you faint or feel you are about to faint, have palpitations that make you dizzy or unwell, or develop chest pain or tightness at the wheel or at rest.
For the detail by condition, read our guide to DVLA cardiac standards and assessment. The DVLA makes the final decision about your licence, so always check the current GOV.UK guidance.
Going back to work after a heart problem
Most people with a heart condition can return to work. As general guides only, the British Heart Foundation suggests:
- Heart attack treated with angioplasty and stents: often about 2 to 4 weeks.
- Coronary bypass surgery: about 6 to 12 weeks.
- Other heart surgery: at least 8 to 12 weeks for most people, sometimes sooner after keyhole surgery.
- Pacemaker or ICD: often about a week after implantation.
Manual and physically demanding jobs usually take longer. If you drive for work, check the driving rules before you return. Your own timing depends on your recovery, so ask your doctor.
Help at work
- Phased return and adjustments: examples include shorter days, lighter duties, working from home more often and time off for appointments. Talk to your manager early.
- Equality Act 2010: a heart condition can count as a disability if it significantly affects daily activities and lasts, or is expected to last, 12 months or more. Employers may then have to make reasonable adjustments.
- Fit note and sick pay: a doctor or other healthcare professional can issue a fit note. Statutory sick pay can last up to 28 weeks, and your employer may offer more.
- Access to Work: a GOV.UK scheme that can fund equipment or support.
If your employer or occupational health asks for medical evidence, a consultant assessment and written report can help.
Flying and travelling abroad with a heart condition
If your condition is stable and you feel well, travel is usually fine, and most people with heart or circulatory disease can fly. The British Heart Foundation advises checking with your GP or heart specialist first, especially after a recent heart attack, heart surgery or hospital stay for your heart. There is no single rule for how soon you can fly, because it depends on you.
Before you go
- Arrange travel insurance that covers your condition, and tell the insurer about it.
- Carry a letter listing your condition, medicines, allergies and any device.
- Take enough medicine for the whole trip in your hand luggage, with a spare supply in your suitcase and a list of medicines and doses. A GTN spray can be used on a plane if needed.
- With a pacemaker or ICD, carry your device card and tell security staff. Scanners should not cause problems, and people with an ICD can ask for a hand search.
Long flights, heat and altitude
The risk of a blood clot (DVT) on a flight is low for most people but higher after a previous DVT or recent surgery, so ask your doctor. Walking up the aisle about every hour, staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol and caffeine can help. If you have angina or heart failure, or take diuretics (water tablets), discuss hot climates with your doctor, and get advice before going above about 2,000 metres.
Travel insurance and your heart condition
Insurers need to know about your heart condition, and the answers you give on a policy matter: if they are not accurate, a claim may be refused. Specialist policies exist for people with pre-existing conditions, and a standard policy may exclude them or cost much more.
- Declare every heart condition, and any recent tests, procedures, hospital stays or changes to your medicines, when you are asked.
- Answer the medical screening questions as accurately as you can. They often ask about recent symptoms, how stable your condition is and any planned treatment.
- Compare specialist cover. The MoneyHelper travel insurance directory lists providers that cover people with medical conditions.
- If an insurer asks for a letter or report confirming that your condition is stable, ask your GP or specialist. Some practices charge for this.
- A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives access to state-provided healthcare in some countries, but it does not replace travel insurance.
Flying after a heart attack, heart surgery or with heart failure
Many people with a stable heart condition can fly. How soon you can fly after a heart attack, heart surgery or a hospital stay depends on the condition, the treatment you had and how well you are, so ask your cardiologist or GP before you book. Airlines may ask for medical clearance, particularly if you are breathless at rest or your condition has recently changed. If you have heart failure and need extra oxygen on a flight, this usually has to be arranged with the airline in advance.
Exercise and sport with a heart condition
Regular activity is good for most people with heart conditions, but the right type and amount depends on your diagnosis and treatment. Some conditions, such as certain heart muscle or rhythm conditions and significant valve disease, need specific advice before intense or competitive exercise. Check with your cardiologist before starting or increasing exercise.
Stop and get advice if you have
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness.
- Breathlessness that is unusual for you.
- Dizziness or a feeling you may faint.
- A racing or irregular heartbeat that does not settle.
An exercise ECG or exercise stress echocardiogram shows how your heart responds to effort and can help guide what is safe.
Sex and intimacy with a heart condition
The British Heart Foundation says sex is no more likely to trigger a heart problem than any other physical activity, and that it is safe for most people with a heart condition, including angina, a previous heart attack, a pacemaker or an ICD. As a rough guide, if you can walk a mile on the flat in about 20 minutes or climb two flights of stairs comfortably, you are likely to be fine.
After a heart attack or heart surgery
Most people can start again when they feel well enough, often around 2 to 8 weeks after a heart attack, and sometimes later after surgery. Choose a comfortable position, take it gently, and avoid sex after a heavy meal or too much alcohol. Keep your GTN spray within reach if you have one.
When to stop and get help
- Stop and get medical help if you have chest pain, pressure or tightness, unusual breathlessness, dizziness or palpitations that do not settle.
- If you take nitrate medicines such as GTN, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using erectile dysfunction tablets, because the combination can be dangerous.
- Loss of desire or erectile problems can be a side effect of some medicines, and anxiety can play a part. Ask your GP, pharmacist or cardiologist, because a change of dose or medicine is sometimes possible.
Cardiac rehabilitation and getting back to normal
After a heart attack you will usually be referred to cardiac rehabilitation, as the NHS describes. It typically combines supervised exercise, education about your heart and medicines, and emotional support, and it can be done in person or remotely using video calls or apps. It may also be offered after stents, heart surgery or with heart failure. Taking part is one of the best-supported ways to rebuild confidence and fitness.
How long does recovery take?
The NHS says some people recover within several weeks with little effect on their life, while for others recovery takes months or longer, and most people can return to their normal activities once they have recovered. Ask your cardiology or rehabilitation team what a safe pace is for you.
Anxiety and low mood after a heart problem
Feeling anxious, low or worried about going back to work or daily tasks after a heart problem is common. The NHS advises talking to your GP about anxiety or low mood, because treatment and support are available. Local and online peer-support groups can also help.
Where to get support
- Your GP or cardiac rehabilitation nurse.
- The British Heart Foundation Heart Helpline on 0808 802 1234 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
- NHS 111 if you are worried about symptoms, or call 999 in an emergency.
Everyday habits that protect your heart
The NHS recommends these everyday steps after a heart attack or with coronary heart disease:
- Do not smoke, and ask for stop-smoking support if you need it.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels.
- Eat a balanced diet with less salt and less saturated fat.
- Keep to a healthy weight and exercise regularly, at a level your cardiologist agrees is safe.
- Cut down on alcohol.
- Take your medicines as prescribed, and do not stop them without speaking to your doctor.
A heart health check reviews your blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors together.
Medicines and everyday life
Many heart conditions are managed with long-term medicines. The NHS advises taking them as prescribed and not stopping them without talking to your doctor, even if you feel well.
Everyday points
- Keep an up-to-date list of your medicines and doses, and show it at appointments and to pharmacists.
- Order repeat prescriptions early, especially before you travel, so you do not run out.
- Ask a pharmacist before buying over-the-counter medicines, supplements or herbal remedies. For example, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can raise blood pressure or cause fluid retention, and some medicines interact with blood thinners.
- Grapefruit juice can interact with some heart medicines, including some statins. Ask your pharmacist about yours.
- If you take a blood thinner (anticoagulant), tell your dentist and any surgeon before treatment.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about side effects such as dizziness, a persistent dry cough, ankle swelling, muscle pain or bruising, rather than stopping the medicine yourself. You can also report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
When to get urgent help
- Call 999 for serious bleeding that will not stop, vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, a head injury while on a blood thinner, or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
- Call 999 if you faint or have chest pain that does not settle.
Pregnancy and heart conditions
Many women with a heart condition can have a safe pregnancy, but it needs planning. The British Heart Foundation advises talking to your GP or cardiologist before you try to conceive, because the risks depend on your condition and some heart medicines, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and warfarin, are not suitable in pregnancy.
What to do
- Ask for pre-pregnancy advice before you stop contraception.
- Do not stop or change your medicines on your own. Ask your doctor what to take.
- Ask to be looked after by a team that includes a cardiologist and an obstetrician, often in a specialist combined clinic.
- Ask about contraception that suits your condition, because some methods, such as the combined pill, are not suitable for everyone with a heart condition.
When to get urgent help
- Call 999 or contact your maternity unit urgently for chest pain, severe breathlessness, breathlessness when lying flat, a fast or irregular heartbeat with dizziness, fainting, or sudden swelling, during pregnancy or after birth.
When to seek urgent help
Call 999 for severe, crushing or spreading chest pain, sudden severe breathlessness, fainting or collapse, or signs of a stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty).
Get same-day medical advice if you have
- New chest pain that comes on with effort or settles with rest.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle.
- New breathlessness or swelling of both ankles.
- One swollen, painful, warm leg.
A private cardiology appointment is not an emergency service. For same-day advice, call NHS 111 or your GP.
Living with a heart condition FAQs
Can I live a normal life with a heart condition?
Many people can. Once your condition is diagnosed, treated and stable, most people return to work, travel and be active. The details depend on your condition, so ask your cardiologist what applies to you.
Do I have to tell my employer?
That is usually your decision, but telling them can open the door to adjustments. Some safety-critical jobs and licences have their own rules, so check your contract and any professional or licensing requirements.
Is it safe to fly with a pacemaker or ICD?
Generally yes. Carry your device card, tell security staff, and ask your cardiology team if you have any concerns about your device.
Does a heart condition count as a disability?
It can under the Equality Act 2010 if it significantly affects your daily activities and lasts, or is expected to last, 12 months or more.
Can I get advice about my own situation?
Yes. You can book a face-to-face, telephone or video consultation with Dr Salloum and ask about driving, work, travel and exercise for your own condition.
Questions to ask your cardiologist about daily life
- Can I drive, and do I need to tell the DVLA?
- When can I return to work, and would a phased return help?
- Do I need a fit note or a letter for my employer?
- Is it safe for me to fly or travel abroad, and what should I carry?
- What type and amount of exercise is safe for me?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop exercising and get advice?
- Which symptoms mean I should call NHS 111 or 999?
- Do my medicines affect driving, travel or exercise?
- Do I need further tests, such as an exercise ECG or stress echo?
- When should I have a follow-up, and what should I monitor at home?
Guidelines and sources
This page is based on UK guidance and patient information, including the British Heart Foundation pages Work with a heart condition, Holidays and travel with a heart condition and Is sex safe with a heart condition?, the NHS page Heart attack: recovery, and the DVLA guidance Cardiovascular disorders: assessing fitness to drive on GOV.UK. Timings and rules are general guides and can change, so check the current sources. It is general information and does not replace personal medical advice.
The travel insurance, flying, medicines and pregnancy sections also draw on British Heart Foundation and NHS patient information and on the MoneyHelper travel insurance directory.
If you would like to see a consultant cardiologist, you can book a face-to-face, telephone or video consultation below.
Related heart conditions and tests
Further reading from Dr Salam Salloum, Consultant Cardiologist.
Driving rules and assessment for car and lorry licences after a heart problem.
See how your heart responds to effort and what level of exercise is safe.
A consultant review of your heart risk, blood pressure and lifestyle.
Personal advice on work, travel and activity at Peterborough or Corby.
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