Gains from exercise after heart attack are lost if exercise stops
Some important benefits of exercising after a heart attack can vanish in weeks if the exercise is stopped, a new study has found.
The researchers tested F.M.D. — flow-mediated dilation, a measure of the flexibility of an artery as blood flows through it — in 228 heart attack survivors. Their arteries averaged about 4.2 percent expansion, compared with the 10 percent considered normal in healthy people.
Then the scientists divided patients into four groups to undergo resistance training, aerobic exercise, both together, or no exercise programme at all. Finally, the exercisers “detrained,” remaining idle for four weeks.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that the dilation had increased to 5.3 percent in the people who had not exercised, but to an average of more than 10 percent in the training groups. After four weeks of detraining, dilation returned to almost exactly the initial levels in all three exercise groups.
“Cardiac rehabilitation is cheap,” said Dr. Margherita Vona, the lead author and director of cardiac rehabilitation at a clinic in Glion-sur-Montreux, Switzerland, “but the price of losing its benefits is high. It’s important to educate patients about exercise, and essential that they continue for the long term.”
WHO IS AT RISKb
In South Africa cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the major killers as one in four women before the age of 60 will have some form of heart condition. 1 in 35 women is at risk of breast cancer, 1 in 4 of heart disease – you should be 9 times more diligent about checking your heart health, warns the Heart Foundation.Worldwide CVD causes 8.6 million deaths among women annually. It is the largest single cause of mortality among women, accounting for a third of all deaths in women worldwide.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) affects women approximately 10 years later than men, possibly because of the protective effect of oestrogen prior to the onset of menopause. Oral contraceptive use can increase the risk of developing blood clots and having a heart attack when combined with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A HEART ATTACKT
The injured heart muscle starts to heal immediately after the attack and takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks. The final result is usually an area of strong scar tissue that, in most patients, does not affect the function of the heart or the way the person feels.
For the first few days after being released from hospital, resting is very important. Keep activity low – you may find that you are more tired than you expect.
WHAT EXERCISE CAN I DO
With your doctor’s approval and advice, begin light exercise as soon as possible. Start walking outside on a flat surface at a steady medium pace. Increase the length of your walk as you feel able. Each individual is different and you must progress at your own rate. Listen to your body. Don’t overstress yourself. If you feel shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, or chest pain, contact your doctor immediately.
The best type of exercises at this stage are walking, cycling and swimming. Exercise need not be too vigorous to be beneficial; over time you should be aiming to do one of these at least most days of the week.
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