Cardiac disease accounts for nearly 126,000 deaths per year of which 38,000 occur prematurely below the age of 75 according to the British Heart Foundation latest statistics (2008).
Coronary Heart Disease - CHD - is an umbrella term for several cardiac pathologies, including myocardial infarction, commonly heart attack, Coronary artery disease - self-explanatory -, heart valve disease and heart failure. The underlying cause of CHD is normally a result of atheroma (fatty plaque) which builds up in one or more of the coronary arteries, resulting in poor blood flow to the myocardium (heart muscle). Inactivity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and ageing all lead towards atheroma. Basically, the arteries get furred up and the blood can't flow. I have to add here that in my studies I have dissected arteries belonging to patients who have died of heart disease and was horrified by atheroma. I had originally believed this to be like a fatty substance - a bit like a blocked drain -. It wasn't. It is like lime-scale and broke the scalpel I was working with. Think of that inside you, focuses the mind on a healthy diet - no problem -!
Studies by the American Journal of Medicine (2004) and the Annals of Internal Medicine (2005) have shown that exercise reduces the risk of total mortality 27%, cardiac mortality 31% and recurrence rate of CHD by 38%. The reasons why this happens is not yet fully understood. However exercise reduces the build up of atheroma in the coronary arteries, prevents thrombus (clot) formation and increases vasodilation (expansion) of the coronary arteries which promotes better coronary blood flow to the heart. The heart after all, is a type of muscle tissue.
There are about 400 Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes in the UK. However only 41% of eligible patients are offered this and 50% will drop out before the end of the programme and with just 30% continuing exercising at one year (statistics again from the British Heart Foundation).
I think the point here is prevention rather than cure. A little exercise goes a long way. For many people the idea of formal exercise is an anathema. However, parking your car a little further away each time you go out is no great hardship. How about getting off the bus or train one stop before you normally do - perhaps three times a week? How about making piles of things to take upstairs and then making four journeys up those stairs rather than two? How about never using lifts or escalators? How about some skipping or playing with a Hoola Hoop? How about some good old fashioned dancing? There are so many different ways of exercising that don't have to be a visit to a gym or riding a bike or swimming if you hate those things. The only restriction is your imagination.
I have included other easy ideas in my ipad app bitesize-exercise which is a great vehicle to get you going. Quick,simple and achievable exercises just for you!
Coronary Heart Disease - CHD - is an umbrella term for several cardiac pathologies, including myocardial infarction, commonly heart attack, Coronary artery disease - self-explanatory -, heart valve disease and heart failure. The underlying cause of CHD is normally a result of atheroma (fatty plaque) which builds up in one or more of the coronary arteries, resulting in poor blood flow to the myocardium (heart muscle). Inactivity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and ageing all lead towards atheroma. Basically, the arteries get furred up and the blood can't flow. I have to add here that in my studies I have dissected arteries belonging to patients who have died of heart disease and was horrified by atheroma. I had originally believed this to be like a fatty substance - a bit like a blocked drain -. It wasn't. It is like lime-scale and broke the scalpel I was working with. Think of that inside you, focuses the mind on a healthy diet - no problem -!
Studies by the American Journal of Medicine (2004) and the Annals of Internal Medicine (2005) have shown that exercise reduces the risk of total mortality 27%, cardiac mortality 31% and recurrence rate of CHD by 38%. The reasons why this happens is not yet fully understood. However exercise reduces the build up of atheroma in the coronary arteries, prevents thrombus (clot) formation and increases vasodilation (expansion) of the coronary arteries which promotes better coronary blood flow to the heart. The heart after all, is a type of muscle tissue.
There are about 400 Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes in the UK. However only 41% of eligible patients are offered this and 50% will drop out before the end of the programme and with just 30% continuing exercising at one year (statistics again from the British Heart Foundation).
I think the point here is prevention rather than cure. A little exercise goes a long way. For many people the idea of formal exercise is an anathema. However, parking your car a little further away each time you go out is no great hardship. How about getting off the bus or train one stop before you normally do - perhaps three times a week? How about making piles of things to take upstairs and then making four journeys up those stairs rather than two? How about never using lifts or escalators? How about some skipping or playing with a Hoola Hoop? How about some good old fashioned dancing? There are so many different ways of exercising that don't have to be a visit to a gym or riding a bike or swimming if you hate those things. The only restriction is your imagination.
I have included other easy ideas in my ipad app bitesize-exercise which is a great vehicle to get you going. Quick,simple and achievable exercises just for you!
Source...