How Exercise Helps Congestive Heart Failure Patients

Congestive heart failure (CHF) can be defined as the condition of the heart in which an abnormality of cardiac structure or function is responsible for the inability of the heart to fill with or eject blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues.

Patients with CHF generally complain weakness and disinterest in activity. Before the 1980s, patients having CHF were advised for rest and not to do any kind of exercises. The idea behind was it would reduce circulatory requirements and to encourage diuresis. In actuality, reduced physical activity may actually add to the secondary signs of CHF. These include, reduced muscle strength, decreased exercise tolerance, and pulmonary embolism.

Later, studies showed that exercise is safe and advantageous effects in the patients with CHF. Patients doing regular exercise are improving their quality of life and functional status. It is seen that exercise reduces the chances of complication and mortality in CHF patients.

Exercise is an excellent way to lower the stress in our life. It also augment our strength, stamina and tolerance for doing the normal activities we do in our daily life such as gardening and shopping from the departmental store.

It is demonstrated by the researchers that benefits of exercise in the patients with CHF in all the categories, with ischemic and non-ischemic origin in patients with class-II and class-III level heart failure and in the patients with a varied range of VO2 and ejection fraction.

The patients with worst LV ejection fraction parameter benefit most from doing exercise. It seems that, benefits of exercise are independent on the etiology of CHF.

In severe, acute CHF, prescription is not advocated regarding exercise. However, once the patient has become stable and compensated, regular isotonic exercise (aerobic exercise) such as walking or riding a stationary bicycle ergometer as tolerated should be strongly encouraged. Some trials of exercise training have led to encouraging results with reduced symptoms, increased exercise capacity and improved quality of life. Weight reduction by restriction in calorie intake in obese patients with CHF also reduces cardiac workload and is essential component of the therapeutic program.

The exercises that are recommended for the patients with CHF are-
Walking- chose a pleasant, pollution free area for walking. This should be done at regular pace that comforts you with slow and deep breathing.
Mild exercise: riding a static bicycle, swimming, jogging.
Breathing exercise, stretching exercise,
Isometric exercise: weight lifting with low range weights.