The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports on the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors. These reports include information on core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health
The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs)
Heart disease is a major contributor to global mortality. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year1. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions1. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke.
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. One person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease
There are several risk factors for heart disease. Some of these risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. However, many risk factors can be controlled through lifestyle changes or medication.
Some of the key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking1. About half of all Americans (47%) have at least one of these three key risk factors for heart disease.
Other behavioral risk factors for heart disease and stroke include an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of these behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity.
Physical therapy can play an important role in managing heart disease. Physical therapist interventions including education, resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, inspiratory muscle training, electrical stimulation, and behavior modification strategies can positively influence functional capacity, strength, and quality of life in patients with heart failure (HF), and could contribute to decreased hospital re-admissions.
According to 2020 guidelines, physical therapy for heart disease may include aerobic exercise to strengthen the heart, counseling to improve exercise and lifestyle habits, resistance training to strengthen bones and muscles, exercises to retrain breathing mechanics, and balance and flexibility training.
Aerobic exercise is an important part of managing heart disease. The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine both recommend combining aerobic exercise (such as jogging, swimming, or biking) with resistance training (moderate weightlifting). Together, these two categories of exercise produce the greatest benefit for preventing and managing heart disease.
Aerobic exercise has many positive effects on heart health. It can help lower blood pressure, lessen the risk of developing diabetes, maintain a healthy body weight, and reduce inflammation throughout the body1. Regular aerobic activity can also improve the muscles’ ability to pull oxygen out of the blood, reducing the need for the heart to pump more blood to the muscles.
It is recommended to get in a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming at least five days a week. Do moderate weightlifting to tone muscles and build muscle endurance twice a week, or frequently enough to cover the major muscle groups.
Physical therapy interventions can be very helpful in managing stroke and heart disease. A few examples of interventions that may be used includes:
- Aerobic exercise: Aerobic exercise is a type of physical activity that increases your heart rate and breathing rate. It can help improve cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and improve the function of the heart and lungs. Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, cycling, swimming, and dancing.
- Resistance training: Resistance training involves lifting weights or using resistance bands to strengthen muscles. It can help improve muscle strength, balance, and coordination, which are important for maintaining mobility and preventing falls.
- Range of motion exercises: Range of motion exercises involve moving the joints through their full range of motion. They can help improve flexibility, reduce stiffness, and prevent contractures (muscle shortening).
- Balance training: Balance training involves exercises that challenge your balance and coordination. It can help improve your ability to maintain your balance while standing or walking, which can reduce the risk of falls.
- Gait training: Gait training involves practicing walking with proper form and technique. It can help improve your ability to walk safely and efficiently, which can improve your overall mobility and reduce the risk of falls.
These interventions can be tailored to the individual needs and abilities of each patient, and may be used in combination with medications, surgery, and other treatments as part of a comprehensive care plan.
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