Effects of Exercise on Heart Failure. Traditionally, heart failure patients have been discouraged from exercising. Now, exercise performed under medical supervision is proving to be helpful for select patients with stable heart failure.
- Studies continue to report benefits from exercise training. In one study, heart failure patients as old as 91 years old increased their oxygen consumption significantly after six months of supervised treadmill and stationary bicycle exercises.
- Progressive resistance training may be particularly useful for heart failure patients since it strengthens muscles, which commonly deteriorate in this disorder. Even simply performing daily handgrip exercises can improve blood flow through the arteries.
Experts warn, however, that exercise is not appropriate for all heart failure patients.
Effects of Exercise on Stroke
All stroke survivors should have a pre-exercise evaluation done by their doctor before starting an exercise program.
The effects of exercise on stroke are less established than on heart disease, but most studies are positive on its benefits. The following are some examples:
- According to one major analysis, men cut their risk for stroke in half if their exercise program was roughly equivalent to about an hour of brisk daily walking five days a week. In the same study, exercise that involved recreation was more protective against stroke than exercise routines consisting simply of walking or climbing.
- A 2000 study of women also found substantial protection from brisk walking or striding (rather than casual walking).
Exercise Programs for High-Risk Individuals
Anyone with heart disease or risk factors for developing heart disease or stroke should seek medical advice before beginning a workout program. Patients with heart disease can nearly always exercise safely as long as they work out under medical supervision. Still, it is often difficult for a doctor to predict health problems that might arise as the result of an exercise program. At-risk individuals should be very aware of any symptoms warning of harmful complications while they exercise.
Some experts believe that anyone over 40 years old, whether or not they are at risk for heart disease, should have a complete physical examination before starting or intensifying an exercise program. Some doctors use a questionnaire for people over 40 to help determine whether they require such an examination:
Previous Section
