CORONARY HEART DISEASE

The heart of the matter

According to the British Heart Foundation, coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of premature death and disability in the UK (1). Cardiac disease accounts for nearly 126,000 deaths per year, of which 38,000 occur prematurely below the age of 75 (1), writes Tim Grove.

What is CHD? CHD is an umbrella term for several cardiac pathologies, including myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery disease (CAD), heart valve disease and heart failure. The underlying cause of CHD is normally a result of atheroma (fatty plaque), which builds up in one or more of the coronary arteries resulting in poor blood flow to the myocardium. The build-up of atheroma is normally caused by several risk factors such as inactivity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and advancing age.

Can exercise help manage CHD? Exercise-therapy forms an integral component of the management of patients with CHD. CHD patients are encouraged to take part in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), which aims to reduce disability, reduce CHD risk factors and empower healthy lifestyle changes through physical activity, diet, medication, education and counselling.

“Exercise professionals play a key role in maintaining long-term exercise habits.”

www.exerciseregister.org 19