Exercise for Persons with Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. It accounts for almost 50% of all deaths
each year and affects nearly 14 million Americans. This number includes those with angina pectoris (chest
pain) as well as persons with impairment of the heart’s ability to pump effectively (congestive heart failure),
resulting in inadequate blood flow to the tissues. Nearly 1.5 million Americans have heart attacks each
year, and about a third of them die. What’s more, heart attacks are equal opportunity killers: About half of
the nearly 500,000 annual heart attack deaths are among women. And, every year more than 700,000
patients with heart disease undergo either bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty. Treatment for persons
with heart disease is multifaceted and includes smoking cessation, cholesterol reduction, blood pressure
control and exercise training.
Benefits and Limitations
The physical conditioning achieved by regular aerobic exercise decreases the heart rate and blood
pressure at rest and at any given level of exercise. Consequently, the workload on the heart is reduced and
anginal symptoms may be alleviated. Regular exercise also improves muscle function and increases the
cardiac patient’s ability to take in and use oxygen. This is commonly referred to as the maximal oxygen
consumption or aerobic capacity. As the body’s ability to transport and deliver oxygen improves, the patient
has added energy and less fatigue. This benefit is important for patients with heart disease whose aerobic
fitness is typically less than that of healthy adults of similar age. Moreover, the greatest improvements often
occur among the most unfit.
How does an increase in aerobic capacity help the heart patient more easily perform occupational and
leisure-time activities? Scientists have discovered that a given task requires a relatively constant supply of
oxygen. Patients who are not aerobically fit may have to work at the high end of their aerobic capacity to
accomplish moderate intensity leisure-time activities, e.g., gardening or walking the dog. On the other
hand, aerobically fit patients may consume about the same amount of oxygen for these activities, but since
they have a higher capacity, they will perform these tasks at a lower percentage of their maximum with less
fatigue or symptoms.
Aerobic exercise training programs can result in modest decreases in body weight and fat stores, blood
pressure (particularly in persons with elevHow to set realistic personal fitness goals
For many people, goals may feel unattainable because they seem much more complex than they actually are. For example, If your client would like to lose 30 pounds, he or she may feel like that weight is never going to come off when looking at it in the short term. If your client breaks that down to 15 pounds in six months and another 15 in the last half of the year, it may feel a bit more manageable.
KEEP THE WORKOUTS INTERESTING AND ENGAGING
When the novelty of that initial motivation fades away, it may be because the routine has become exactly that, a routine. The important thing to remember is that your clients don't have to spend hours with you to get the results they are working toward. Beyond that, your clients don't have to stick to one specific workout routine to get the results he or she wants. For example, instead of just focusing on high-intensity interval training, aka HIIT, incorporate Pilates or yoga into the mix. Finally, you don't want your clients to plateau or burn out, and incorporating variety will avoid just that while keeping things interesting in the gym.
ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REFERENCE YOUR CLIENTS' GOALS
It's important to encourage your client to accept accountability, but don't become too pushy. Whether it's paying in advanced or sticking to a schedule, accountability will help your client stay on track.
One of the best ways to ensure that your clients stay on track is to reference their goals daily, weekly and monthly. If your clients are determined to reach a goal by a specific date, they will be more likely to pass on those tempting office treats if they have their goals in front of them every morning. For a quick and effective way to track goals, encourage your clients to use an online tool, such as Evernote. The basic version is free and an efficient way to organize daily tasks, such as going to the gym, and track those long-term goals.
KEEP YOUR CLIENTS GOING BEYOND EACH SESSION
If you want your clients to stay committed to their training, they must commit to a healthy and active lifestyle. In other words, they must stay dedicated long after each session. Encourage your clients to download an inexpensive app, like Commit. Commit helps users form habits by asking he or she if they have achieved the goal they set for that day. For example, "Did you run today?" It will even remind users if they happen to forget.
Topics: Fitness