World Heart Day takes place on 29 September and is an incredibly important day, drawing awareness of the importance of heart health and knowledge.
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a broad term for all diseases of the heart and blood vessels, with the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease (e.g. heart attack) and cerebrovascular disease (e.g. stroke), in addition to other minor impairments. Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in the world, and immediate action is needed to ensure a heart-healthy future for all. It is estimated that over 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2015, representing 31% of global deaths – a number that is expected to grow to more than 23.6 million by 2030.
Although a large portion of the impact on heart health comes from the foods that we eat, exercise also plays a vital role in aiding and supporting our hearts.
The idea that moderate endurance training improves chronic cardiac insufficiency (CHI) as secondary prevention has been sufficiently validated. But in reality, experience has shown that only a few well-instructed, highly motivated and mostly younger patients are prepared to commit to constant supplementary therapy. The experiences with full body electromyostimulation (EMS) used in cardiac patients show a great and unexpected potential regarding the regeneration of neurohumoral, inflammatory and skeletal muscle-related symptoms within the framework of the systemic disease CHI.
A study recently showed how much EMS training can help cardiac patients, where 15 patients diagnosed with CHI completed a 6-month EMS training programme using EMS training devices. The amplitude was chosen by the patients according to their subjective sensation of muscle contraction/pulse sensation at level 8 on a ten-step scale. Before and after the 6 months of training, the cardiac performance was assessed by means of spiroergometry, electrocardiography (EKG) and echocardiogram. Furthermore, the metabolic status including creatine kinase (CK) and laktatedehydrogenase (LDH) and the patient’s weight and body fat distribution was determined (impedance scale).
The results showed an increase of up to 96% in oxygen uptake at the individual’s anaerobic threshold. The diastolic blood pressure lowered significantly; muscle mass increased up to 14% while the body weight remained constant. The patients all stated that they felt a profound increase in performance capacity.
Not only can you improve your diet, but adding EMS training to your exercise regime can show an improvement in objective performance, optimisation of muscle strength, physiology and metabolic rates. Find your nearest BODYTEC studio today and better your heart health this September.
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