Chronic 'Exercise Deficiency' Linked to HFpEF
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Chronic lack of exercise — dubbed "exercise deficiency" — is associated with cardiac atrophy, reduced cardiac output and chamber size, and diminished cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in a subgroup of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), researchers say. Increasing the physical activity levels of these sedentary individuals could be an effective preventive strategy, particularly for those who are younger and middle-aged, they suggest.
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@kunal To support their hypothesis that HFpEF is an exercise deficiency in certain patients, La Gerche and colleagues conducted a literature review that highlights the following points:
There is a strong association between physical activity and both CRF and heart function.
Exercise deficiency is a major risk factor for HFpEF in a subset of patients.
Increasing physical activity is associated with greater cardiac mass, stroke volumes, cardiac output, and peak oxygen consumption.
Physical inactivity leads to loss of heart muscle, reduced output and chamber size, and less ability to improve cardiac performance with exercise.
Aging results in a smaller, stiffer heart; however, this effect is mitigated by regular exercise.