Improving Heart Health through Walking: Optimal Steps for People with Heart Failure

2023-07-29 18:02:47

Walking more can improve heart health. A recent study published in the Journals of the American College of Cardiology identified the ideal number of steps to achieve in people with heart failure.

Heart failure is a disease characterized by the following symptoms. Shortness of breath, weight gain, edema in the feet and ankles and fatigue. It is responsible for approximately 200,000 hospitalizations in France and nearly 70,000 deaths. When the heart suffers heart failure, it then loses some of its muscle strength. This therefore means that it no longer pumps enough blood to allow the organs to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need. This incurable heart condition can sometimes make it difficult to perform simple daily tasks. But also can severely reduce mobility.

Heart failure: recommendation to walk between 1,000 and 5,000 steps per day

This trial evaluated over 400 patients with heart failure. And this, by measuring their number of daily steps and the number of floors climbed. As well as the impact of these efforts on their symptoms. After 12 weeks, patients who walked between 1,000 and 5,000 steps per day saw significant improvement in their symptoms. But also a reduction in their physical limitations.

People who usually walked 2,000 steps a day had total symptom scores 3.11 points higher than those who only took 1,000 steps daily. Those who increased their step count by 2,000 per day over the 12 weeks experienced a 5-point increase in physical limitation scores compared to those who did not change their step count.

What physical activity is recommended for people with heart disease?

According to the results, increasing the number of steps thus had beneficial effects on most patients. While walking less didn’t change anything. These results show that exercising regularly is good for people with heart disease. Indeed, it strengthens the heart, improves blood circulation and increases energy. Professor John Spertus, co-author of the study, then said in a communication. ” VSThe data show for the first time how changes in activity relate to changes in patient health status. Which suggests that we should interpret increased activity as a sign of better health, but not be overly concerned about decreases in activity.« .

For a healthy person, it is recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity. Like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Or even cardio or muscle strengthening, spread over the whole week.

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