Dr. Afroze Ahmad
So, I have heart failure, doctor, and you recommend I should exercise. I am concerned exercise will worsen my heart failure.
Ryan, a 28-year-old IT executive and father of a 2-year-old son, posed this question to me several months ago during one of his follow-up visits in
my clinic.
Ryan was an active and healthy young man 12 months earlier, running close to 50 miles a week when a simple viral infection of his sinuses and throat was complicated by the involvement of the heart, causing heart failure. Ryan was hospitalized, kept on life support with plans for a heart transplant. Fortunately, he continued to improve. Heart transplant plans were cancelled, and he was discharged.
Over the next several months, we adjusted and readjusted his medications, outlined weight goals, arranged meal planning around his likes and dislikes of food, and, most importantly, dealt with his fears and apprehensions. Over the next few months, his ankle swelling, shortness of breath, nausea and palpitations stabilized and then resolved. Ryan obviously was improving on all fronts, including his energy level.
In contrast, Ryan’s fears for the disease re-striking persisted. He absolutely refused cardiac rehabilitation, as he believed exertion would tire his heart and kill him. Joan, his wife, shared with me that Ryan also was afraid to hold and play with his little son, Craig, as he felt it was too much exercise for his heart.
Antidepressants helped with his mood and depression, but initially, did little for his fears about exercise. Then he underwent a light low-level stress test in our office, which he passed with flying colors. Passing the stress test gave him the confidence to place his son in his lap and play with him. Ryan was overwhelmed with joy at this milestone. He called me to share his joy and disbelief that the exertion he underwent while playing with his son did not have any adverse effects.
I knew this was my opportunity, and I lost no time in reminding him again that exercise will slowly and surely have the same favorable effect on both his heart and his well-being. He agreed to an exercise prescription. Currently, he walks two miles on a daily basis, including weekends.
Exercise in itself does wonders for the mind and the body. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a diseased heart also would experience wonders and benefits of exercise. We have enough data to confidently appreciate the benefits of exercise in heart failure. Exercise, including aerobic training, is not only desirable and feasible, but also quite safe in
heart failure.
In heart failure, exercise decreases the risk and the rate of re-hospitalizations, while improving both the feeling of well-being and the quality of life. When
Ryan underwent the stress test, in the monitored setting of our office, it gave him the boost to play with his son and the confidence thereafter to resume his active lifestyle.
The above article is based on actual conversations with Dr. Afroze Ahmad’s patient. The name and age have been changed to ensure patient confidentiality.
Dr. Afroze Ahmad is a cardiologist who cares and listens. She is a multiple board certified cardiologist practicing at Las Sendas Cardiology, located at 3514 N. Power Road, Suite 107. For information, or to make an appointment, please call (480) 361-9949.