Can exercise reverse or prevent heart diseases?

Studies indicate that pairing a healthy diet with regular exercise is the best way not only to prevent heart disease, but to reverse some risk factors.It’s always best to check with your doctor, but most research shows that any type of exercise that you enjoy and will perform on a regular basis is best.The heart needs exercise just like any other muscle. Muscles that are utilized regularly become stronger and healthier, whereas muscles that aren’t used weaken and atrophy. When it’s exercised, the heart can pump more blood through the body and continue working at optimal efficiency with little strain.

Are women at risk of heart disease?

Heart disease is a general term that includes many types of heart problems. It's also called cardiovascular disease, which means heart and blood vessel disease.Coronary artery disease (also called coronary heart disease) is the most common type of heart disease in both men and women.It happens slowly over time when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply your heart muscle with blood. The plaque narrows or blocks blood flow to the heart muscle and can lead

How much exercise do I need?

Right now, exercise might not be on top of your to-do list. But the World Health Organization (WHO) says it should be. According to its physical activity guidelines, 1 in 4 adults (and 4 out of 5 adolescents) don’t get enough aerobic exercise. That might not sound so bad, but a lack of physical activity can increase the odds of an early death by 20 to 30%. On the flip side, exercise can be a powerful tool for prevention, proven to help protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and anxiety. Plus it can improve thinking, learning and judgment — and even help you get a better night’s sleep.

What is Cardiac Prehab v/s Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive program to get patients healthy again after heart attack, cardiac surgery or other cardiac events, has been shown to save lives. But what if patients waiting for non-emergency heart surgery could start improving their health before their procedure? Could that make their recovery easier and improve their outcomes after surgery? In December 2016, such a “prehabilitation” program—Cardiac PreHab for short—was rolled out to all patients at the Heart Institute waiting for coronary artery bypass surgery or heart valve replacement or repair.

What is the value of an Exercise ECG?

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple and fast test to evaluate the heart. For this test, small, plastic patches that stick to the skin (electrodes) are placed at certain spots on the chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine by wires. Then, the electrical activity of the heart is measured, interpreted, and printed out. No electricity is sent into the body. Natural electrical impulses coordinate contractions of the different parts of the heart to keep blood flowing the way it should. An ECG records these impulses to show how fast the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats (steady or irregular), and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses as they move through the different parts of the heart. Changes in an ECG can be a sign of many heart-related conditions.

Can COVID damage the heart?

For people who have had COVID-19, lingering COVID-19 heart problems can complicate their recovery. Some of the symptoms common in coronavirus “long-haulers,” such as palpitations, dizziness, chest pain and shortness of breath, may be due to heart problems — or, just from having been ill with COVID-19. How do you tell if your symptoms are heart-related, and what can you expect if they are? Johns Hopkins cardiologists Wendy Post, M.D., and Nisha Gilotra, M.D., clarify which post-coronavirus symptoms may point to a heart issue, when to call your doctor, and other facts all long-term COVID-19 survivors should know.

Why do first responders need baseline and regular Cardiac Screening?

When firefighters become suddenly incapacitated on the job, it endangers their lives. It may also put other lives at risk as they work to rescue people from burning buildings or douse flames before they spread. Firefighters and emergency responders undoubtedly have dangerous jobs with many occupational hazards that the average worker in the United States does not have to consider in their line of work. One of the most prevalent hazards of being a firefighter or a first responder is the increased occurrence of cardiac arrest and other heart problems.

Am I at cardiac risk?

Knowledge is power. If you understand the risks for heart attack, you can take steps to improve your health. Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that can increase your chance of having a heart attack. So, it’s important to know them. You can change some risk factors, some you can’t. The first step is to talk to your health care professional, who can help you reduce, control or prevent as many risk factors as you can. They may recommend healthy changes to your daily habits, prescribe medication, or both. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you may be able to see someone at a clinic in your community.

Is Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) the best for preventive screening?

A coronary calcium scan is done to check for calcium in the arteries that supply the heart. It can help diagnose early coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a common heart condition. A buildup of calcium, fats and other substances in the heart arteries are often the cause. This buildup is called plaque. Plaque collects slowly over time, long before there are any symptoms of coronary artery disease. A coronary calcium scan uses a series of X-rays to take pictures that can see if there's plaque that contains calcium.

How does NimbleHeart’s preventive screening work?

Symptom-free individuals can sign up for our cardiovascular screening test. The screening tests are conducted in-person or remotely by our clinical staff with the clients wearing Physiotrace Smart monitors that require no shaving or skin preparation. The in-person screening test approximates only 20 to 30 min. During remote screening the clients perform their exercises while wearing Physiotrace Smart that also uploads exercise ECG and heart rate data to our secure cloud portal. Unlike a Coronary Artery Calcium test that involves radiation and only indicates the risks associated with the coronary calcium score obtained. NimbleHeart’s cardiovascular screening detects several potential abnormalities to heart rhythm, valvular function and functional capacity in addition to inadequate coronary blood flow, suggesting underlaying heart disease. Screening can also be repeated over time to determine changes in heart health and functional capacity.

What does the preventive screening report include?

The report is generated through a clinical review and includes the exercise details with METS (Metabolic Equivalent Tasks), individualized exercise recommendations, safe and effective heart rate zones for training and a cardiac risk assessment. Electrocardiographic anomalies such as abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), evidence of inadequate coronary blood flow (ischemia) and other risk indictors exhibited (e.g. hypertensive blood pressure response) found during the exercise test are highlighted in the report along with the recommendation to see a cardiologist if appropriate. The report is considered confidential and emailed to client who has undergone the screening test.