Researchers have found that a supervised aerobic exercise programme for heart failure patients helps better their quality of life after three months of light exercise, though the physical activity only modestly reduced the risk of hospitalization, or dying within two and a half years.

This means that even while patients who have suffered heart attack are told to rest, in light of increasing evidence, light physical activity is beneficial and could help increase survival rates in certain patients.

The two yet to be published studies in The Journal of the American Medical Association, according to one analysis says exercise improves overall well-being, while the other found a slightly reduced risk relating to hospitalization and death.

Dr. Christopher M. O'Connor, principal investigator of the trial, also director of the Duke Heart Centre, Duke University School of Medicine confirms the results of the study, saying: "I think we can say with a high degree of certainty that this is safe. The message for the average heart failure patient is: 'We believe there are benefits from exercise. Quality of life is important, and physical fitness is important.'"

Heart failure is when the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs and even though there are medications and other treatments to help, patients often suffer from poor quality of life, with simple activities like climbing stairs leaving them fatigued and short of breath, frequent hospitalization and high risk of premature death.

So, it is recommended that heart failure patients undertake a regular programme of moderate exercise to avoid cardiac death and hospitalization. However, exercise also has other benefits, improving physical fitness levels, as patients can not only walk further, but also exercise longer.