the Heart failure It is a disease that occurs due to the inability of the heart to deliver blood circulation to the various organs of the body according to the body’s specific needs. It is currently a real epidemic throughout the world, which can reach… 10% of people over 70 years old It represents the number one reason for hospitalization in this population. In addition, their quality of life and prognosis without adequate monitoring are usually unfavorable.
As Pablo Sotilman, Head of the Heart Failure Unit at the Corazon Tecnon Institute, explains to us, despite the great progress seen in therapeutic strategies for heart failure in recent years, the mainstay of medical treatment still remains. adopt a healthy lifestyle, It is essential to improve the management of this disease.
This involves maintaining a proper diet, controlling cardiovascular risk factors, and doing regular physical exercise, which is an essential tool for a healthy life. When we talk about physical activity, it is not only included in planned physical exercises, but also having habits that allow an active lifestyle, avoiding sedentary activities in daily activities.
People who maintain good physical activity regularly can reduce their risk of future heart failure by up to 50%.
the European Society of Cardiologyas well as the rest of the international scientific societies, recommend, for all people, to complete at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or 75 to 150 minutes of intense aerobic exercise, which has been proven in many studies to achieve a beneficial effect and prevent the onset of diseases. In this sense, it is important to emphasize that even in cases where it is not possible to reach the weekly minutes recommended by the guides, maintaining an active life and doing physical exercise, even for a shorter period, are also associated with valuable benefits.
This is what regular physical exercise does Great health benefits. At the cardiovascular level, Improves heart function and efficiencyAs well as blood circulation in the rest of the body. In addition, it allows a Better control of all risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. As for mood, get a better night's rest. Reduces anxiety and depression, and improves cognitive performance.
Physical activity in heart failure patients
for his part, Physical training in patients with Heart failure It has been shown to achieve significant improvement regarding quality of life. Disease-related symptoms decrease and greater independence is achieved. In turn, the risk of further decompensation and hospitalization due to heart failure is reduced, and even mortality is reduced.
In general, performing physical activity leads to results A very safe practice, but it is important to start gradually and progressively to avoid discomfort or injury, and always under the prescription of the medical team.. You should also know how to recognize potential warning signs, such as severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe dizziness, which should prompt you to stop exercising and consult your doctor. For this reason, all physical training sessions for heart failure must be tailored to each individual patient, taking into account his or her specific characteristics and associated clinical conditions.
How can you train with heart failure?
- Training sessions consist of an initial phase of gradual muscle warm-up, lasting approximately 15 minutes, to mobilize the different muscle groups and joints, and prepare the body for the exercise.
- Next, specific training will be developed, which can usually be of two types: aerobic or resistance. The first is characterized by improved physical fitness and cardiopulmonary capacity, such as walking, running, swimming or cycling. The second involves physical activity aimed at increasing muscle strength and power, such as strength training sessions or high-intensity interval training.
- Once physical activity is completed, a short recovery period of 10 minutes is required, to gradually reduce the intensity and allow adequate muscle relaxation.
Physical exercise is usually indicated in patients with heart failure at 70 to 80% of the heart rate obtained in stress tests, although it is always individual according to each case. It is recommended to perform an aerobic physical training base 3 to 5 times a week, depending on the patient's abilities, and combine it if possible with one or two sessions of resistance exercises.
The importance of medication
Another point to take into consideration is that The medications used can modify the normal development of physical exercise. he Treatment of high blood pressureOn the one hand, it causes vasodilation in the arteries and can lead to changes in blood pressure during exercise, which can initially appear as symptoms of dizziness or fatigue, although they usually improve with gradual training. Another similar situation occurs with Beta blockers, which are medications that work by reducing the basal heart rate and can slow the heart's normal response to exercise. However, as with antihypertensive drugs, these are conditions to which the body gradually adapts and do not usually lead to further problems. In patients on diuretic therapy, it is important to maintain adequate hydration during physical activity to avoid dehydration.
Finally, it exists today Specific cardiac rehabilitation programs for physical training for patients with heart failurewho are responsible for planning and organizing exercise in a supervised manner according to the type of activity required and adjusting its intensity, so it is advisable to know the possibility of participating in local health centers or through your medical team, one of them.
The support you need
Quironsalud Technon Heart Institute It has a unique multidisciplinary team, consisting of the best specialists specialized in each of their fields: clinical cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, specialists in cardiac imaging, hemodynamics, structural heart disease, electrophysiology and arrhythmia, and experts In cardiovascular rehabilitation. In addition to unique facilities equipped with the latest technology to care for your heart health.
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