Cardiac rehabilitation, or guided exercise under direction of a physical therapist, is a valuable yet underutilzed therapy for patients suffering a heart attack. Importantly, in those patients with ongoing risk factors related to obesity and insulin resistance/diabetes, aggressive cardiac rehab was recently shown to be especially effective.
Specifically, two groups of patients were enrolled in high intesity (5-7 days weekly of 45-60 minutes exercise) versus standard (3 days weekly of 25-40 minutes exercise).
High intensity patients lost more than twice as much weight over 5 months as standard patients (18 pounds vs. 8 pounds and had significantly greater reductions in 2 major cardiac risk factors -- waist circumference and insulin resistance. At 1 year, both groups had gained a couple of pounds over 5-month weights, but total body-fat percentages in the aggressive group remained significantly lower than initial readings. Other cardiac risk factors changed too - including decreased insulin resistance, increased HDL (good) cholesterol, and decreased measures of insulin, triglycerides, blood pressure, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and the ratio of total to HDL (good) cholesterol.
Overall then, patients who took advantage of their motivation after heart attack to aggressively address exercise goals reduced potential risk factors and set the tone for a healthier life. If you have been a heart attack sufferer, ask your doctor about cardiac rehab. If you are not a heart attack sufferer but have risks, ask your doctor about trying a program like this on your own.
Questions and comments welcome as always!
Friday, June 19, 2009
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4 comments:
Better check with your insurance company too. When I first had heart problems, cardiac rehab 3 times a week was included without a copay. The last time I went to rehab, I had a copay - can't remember how much. That was 9 yrs ago so I am sure the out of pocket expense is much higher now.
Isn’t it normal that we think that we are not having any problem? I was in the similar misconception when I came to know that I was having an abnormal ECG, on the health checkup day on my school campus. It was an exaggerating surprise for me. I was really shocked to know that I was facing some problem of heart. I immediately got my advanced test done from the nearby diagnostic centre. But doctors didn’t find anything unusual. I wasn’t sure he was really a doctor or just a person who knows to take some test and show us the result. I was at all not satisfied with what doctor there informed me. I thought of getting done my advanced diagnostic test where specialists of this field would have my diagnosis. I then got all advance diagnostic test in EliteHealth Medical practice in Miami. There they were able to find that I was having a deformation in tricuspid valve. It was from birth and was getting deformed increasingly. Then, all the tests were carried out there, got treated as soon as possible, and right now I am leading a very comfortable life than ever before. You can find some important information regarding the advanced diagnosis check up from http://www.elitehealth.com/advanced_diagnostic_testing.php. So this experience led me to a conclusion that one should never leave a chance to anyone who is not proficient in their field. It was better that I got everything one at the right time, otherwise, it would have been too late to know.
Recurrent Ischemia Or Heart Attack
About 20 to 30 percent of heart attack patients experience pain that occurs after the heart attack. Called "postinfarction angina Term for choking pain (Latin, throat pain or choking). When coupled with the word 'pectoris' (Latin, of the chest), angina refers to a painful, constricting sensation in the chest. Angina is caused by coronary artery disease, which reduces the supply of blood to the heart muscle.," this indicates that remaining blood flow to the heart muscle is inadequate. These patients are at increased risk for a subsequent heart attack, called reinfarction.
About 5 to 20 percent of these patients will experience another heart attack in the first six weeks following the original one. This second event may involve the same region of heart muscle or an entirely new region.
Aggressive management of angina following a heart attack helps to reduce the risk of a subsequent heart attack. Patients who experience such angina usually undergo immediate cardiac catheterization Insertion of a catheter (fine tube) into an artery in the forearm or groin and snaking it through the blood vessels until it reaches the coronary arteries. This procedure is used during coronary angiography. See also coronary angiography. and cardiac angiography.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
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Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
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Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
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Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
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Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
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