HEALTH Exercise and heart conditions

Heart of the matter


Exercise and coronary artery conditions

Personal Trainer
Paul O'Brien

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the Western world. That’s a rather somber and depressing way to begin an article, but there is no hiding from this fact. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the result of a condition called atherosclerosis – a buildup of plaque in the arteries supplying the heart with oxygen and blood. Eventually, this build up can lead to a narrowing of these arteries, triggering CAD.
There are many lifestyle factors that contribute to CAD. The big hitters used to be smoking and alcohol, but in recent times these have been joined by high bad cholesterol levels in the blood, excessive blood glucose and stress. Our modern lifestyle and the seemingly endless demands and stresses of western culture have led to massive increases in bad stress (distress) levels, increased use of ‘recreational’ substances and a diet that our bodies cannot cope with.
It’s surely no surprise that conditions such as CAD have increased exponentially since the middle of the 20th century. CAD, cancers, chronic dietary conditions and stress-related instances are known as ‘modern’ conditions for a good reason!
To meet the challenge of CAD, modern medicine has advanced also. Research shows that patients recover more quickly from myocardial infarction (heart attack) if they undergo a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme. Anyone with a history of CAD should begin exercising with such a programme.
When considering further exercise, clearance should be sought from your doctor. Normally, a doctor will provide you with an upper heart-rate limit for exercise, as well as some exercise recommendations. Your doctor can also consult with a certified trainer in setting appropriate exercise parameters for you. A graded exercise test may also be undertaken to determine your functional and cardiovascular capacity.

If you have a history of CAD, use the following guidelines when approaching exercise:

• Choose low-intensity and low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling and swimming
• Exercise should begin at duration of 20-30 minutes or less depending upon your current capacity and progress very gradually and under supervision, and you should try to exercise three to five days per week
• A programme of light resistance exercise to promote muscular endurance can be beneficial when prepared by a certified trainer
• If any abnormal symptoms, including pain, occur during exercise, stop immediately and seek medical advice
• Use a subjective scale to measure the intensity of your exercise: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (Borg RPE) offers clear guidelines on gauging intensity

Paul O’Brien is a personal trainer and life coach based in Westport.