Any exercise is good after suffering a heart attack, as long as you stick to it, new research appearing in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association concluded.
The study looked at endothelial function – a measure of cardiovascular health – in 209 people who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Endothelial cells line the interior of the body's circulatory system, affecting blood vessel function. A loss of function in those cells can be a characteristic of cardiovascular disease.
The participants were randomly assigned to an aerobic training group, a strength training group or to a group that did strength training and aerobics. A third group did not exercise at all.
Those who did aerobic training had four weekly sessions, including a 10-minute warm-up, 40 minutes of cycling that increased the heart rate to 75 percent of maximum and a 10-minute cool-down. Resistance training had four weekly sessions of 10 exercises with weights and rubber bands, lasting 45 seconds to one minute, with recovery intervals of 15 to 30 seconds.
The study researchers then measured endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), the amount that blood vessels widen to increase blood flow. FMD more than doubled, from 4 percent to 10 percent, in both exercise groups, but there was no significant change in FMD in the non-exercising participants.
Surprisingly, or not, was the fact that the increase in FMD was lost a month after the regular exercise program ended.
“This aspect is particularly important in patients with coronary artery disease, in whom correction of endothelial dysfunction could help to slow the progression of atherosclerosis and probably avoid new cardiovascular events,” said Dr. Margherita Vona, director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at the Clinique Valmont-Genolier in Glion sur Montreux. “The conclusion was that in our patients, after a heart attack, all types of exercise were useful for correcting vascular dysfunction, without any difference among aerobic, resistance or combined training.”
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in both men and women, claiming the lives of nearly 1 million Americans every year. Nearly 40 percent of all female deaths in America occur from cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke. Statistics show that stroke is the third leading cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability in the United States.
High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol level, an inactive lifestyle, smoking, diabetes are among the risk factors that you can help control in order to minimize your chances of developing some form of heart disease. Researchers say the chemicals in tobacco smoke raise blood pressure, reduce good cholesterol, and damage blood vessels. Heavy drinkers are at high risk of cardiomyopathy.
Experts say that when it comes to heart disease prevention, no amount of smoking is safe. Tobacco smoke is risky, as is exposure to secondhand smoke. Regularly participating in moderately vigorous physical activity can reduce your risk of fatal heart disease by nearly a quarter. Excessive drinking can also lead to increased blood pressure and weight gain.
Studies have shown that a balanced diet, a moderate alcohol intake, an active lifestyle can reduce your risk of having a heart attack by 77 percent. Experts agree that heart problems are largely preventable if people choose a healthy lifestyle.
