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Heart Failure Patients Encouraged to Exercise to Improve Health

By Katie Kelley

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 23Nov2008 Word count: 667 Viewed: 347 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

A study conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center recently found that exercise is safe for patients of heart failure and that it increased clinical benefits in patients who were already receiving adequate medical care.

The study followed 2,331 heart failure patients across the United States who were of the average age of 59. The patients were randomly assigned to either an exercise program that was detailed and “aimed at increasing workout intensity” or a program that encouraged patients to exercise, but offered no specific program.

The study followed participants for approximately 2.5 years and found that the exercising participants had an 11 to 15 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations compared to those who were not given specifics on exercising. Developing Heart Disease

There are many reasons in which an individual may develop heart disease. The following are several conditions described by the American Heart Association (AHA) that increase the risks are described as conditions of heart disease or conditions contributing to heart disease development.


* Coronary artery disease is when “cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart’s arteries.”

* Myocardial infarction is when a heart attack occurs; an artery blocks blood flow to the heart.

* 
 High blood pressure or hypertension increases the risk of heart failure by two to three times.

* 
 Abnormal heart valves can result from disease or infection at birth and increase the risk of heart failure; additionally other heart defects present at birth such as congenital heart disease.

* 
 Severe lung disease.

* Heart muscle disease or inflammation (myocarditis) of the heart, which can occur because of damage to the heart such as alcohol use or viral infections.

* Developing diabetes or other conditions.

* Low red blood cell counts, which limit oxygen levels carried to the heart.

* 
 Overactive thyroid glands.

* 
 Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia, which is when the heart shows an abnormal heart rhythm of either too fast, too slow or irregular.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finding that there are reports of several prescription drugs causing an increase of heart failure and heart disease among patients.

What is Heart Failure?

The AHA describes this as occurring when the heart is no longer pumping when it should be and the body “depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells.” The AHA describes signs and symptoms of heart failure as including:

* 
 Edema, in which a buildup of excess fluid in body tissues occurs

* 
 Tiredness or fatigue caused by a lack of blood being delivered to vital organs

* 
 A lack of blood being pumped to the digestive system will cause a lack of appetite or nausea

* 
 A persistent cough or wheeze is due to fluid buildup in the lungs

* Shortness of breath occurs as the blood backs up into the pulmonary veins, this is also called dyspnea

* Increased heart rate from the heart beating faster to make up for a loss in pumping capacity

* 
 Confusion or impaired thinking occurring when changes in substance in the blood develops

Prescription Drug’s Increase Heart Disease

Unfortunately, individuals can develop the condition on their own, and, now there are several prescription medications that have been allegedly linked to the development of heart failure including a type 2 diabetes drug known as avandia.

Patients who have type 2 diabetes know that they also must manage other aspects of their health because they are at a greater risk for developing heart failure and stroke. This becomes extremely problematic when a drug given to regulate the insulin levels of type 2 diabetes patients actually increases the risk of heart failure among a patient, which is why individuals may want to consider developing an Avandia class action lawsuit. Such litigation may retrieve an award of monetary compensation for the increased risks and potential damage or harm Avandia may have caused a patient. Commonly, a knowledgeable pharmaceutical attorney will provide a free legal consultation on the development of an Avandia lawsuit to ease an Avandia victims worries.

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