February is Heart Health Month – A Physical Therapist’s Perspective on Preventing and Managing Heart Disease
As we recognize Heart Health Month this February, it’s important to note that this organ works tirelessly to keep us alive and healthy. This month is an opportunity to raise awareness about heart disease, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Heart disease affects people of all ages, but most commonly affects those over the age of 50. It’s also a chance to highlight the role physical therapy plays in preventing, managing, and treating heart-related conditions. Here is a PT’s perspective on managing Heart Disease.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is an umbrella term for a variety of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed or restricted due to a buildup of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis). Other types of heart disease include heart failure (when one side of the heart’s mechanical functions perform below a normal level), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and valve disorders.
Heart disease can lead to serious complications such as heart attacks, stroke, and in severe cases, death. However, many forms of heart disease can be prevented or managed effectively through lifestyle changes and medical interventions, with physical therapy being an essential part of the treatment plan.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Understanding the risk factors for heart disease is crucial for prevention and early intervention. Several factors contribute to the development of heart disease, many of which are modifiable (under your control) with the right approach to lifestyle changes. Some of the most significant, modifiable risk factors include:
1. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Chronic hypertension strains the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease.
2. High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia): Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart and contributing to mechanical failure of the heart and strokes.
3. Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis.
4. Obesity: Excess body weight is associated with a higher risk of developing heart disease, as it can contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
5. Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for heart disease, as regular exercise is essential for cardiovascular health. The heart is a muscle and should be exercised regularly.
6. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of developing heart disease due to damage to the blood vessels and the heart over time.
8. Heart-Straining Diets: Diets high in saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods contribute to the risk of heart disease.
It’s important to note that a significant risk factor for heart disease of any kind is a family history to the first and second degree, which is an unmodifiable risk factor for you.
Taking action over what you can control is the only way to put yourself in the driver’s seat when reducing your risk of developing heart disease.
How Physical Therapy Can Help Prevent and Treat Heart Disease
As a physical therapist working in an outpatient setting, one of the most impactful ways we can support patients with heart disease is by screening for heart disease, promoting heart-healthy lifestyles, and improving cardiovascular function through targeted interventions. Here’s how we can do it:
1. Exercise Prescription
Regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve heart health. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, increase circulation, and strengthen the heart muscle. For patients at risk or recovering from heart disease, a tailored exercise program designed by a physical therapist is crucial. For the average person, the current recommendations for exercise are 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. A PT can help create tailored exercise programs for you that take into account your current abilities and challenges related to exercise.
2. Cardiac Rehabilitation
For patients who have heart disease or an adverse heart-related event, such as a heart attack or heart surgery, cardiac rehabilitation is a critical component of recovery. Cardiac rehab typically involves monitored exercise sessions, education on heart-healthy living, and counseling to manage risk factors like stress, diet, and smoking. The physical therapist’s role is to guide the patient through safe and effective exercises, as well as to ensure that the intensity and duration of physical activity align with the patient’s recovery status. Even after someone has been discharged from cardiac rehabilitation, these strategies are implemented in the outpatient PT setting to maintain or improve cardiac health, even if that is not the specific reason for coming to the PT.
3. Postural and Breathing Exercises
Heart disease and its treatments (surgery, medications) can sometimes lead to decreased mobility, endurance, and breathing capacity. Breathing and postural exercises can be beneficial for patients with heart disease. These exercises help optimize oxygen intake and can therefore improve endurance, fatigue levels, and exercise capacity.
4. Education
In addition to physical rehabilitation, physical therapists provide education about many topics such as screening for heart-related issues, safe exercises for those with heart disease, management of side effects due to medications, stress reduction techniques, and ergonomic advice for daily activities to prevent overexertion and injury.
5. Monitoring Progress and Working Through Setbacks
After a heart event or diagnosis, physical therapists need to monitor progress and ensure that patients are progressing safely. Physical therapists track improvements in strength, endurance, and functional capacity, and make adjustments to the exercise plan as necessary. Especially after an update in status, such as a new event, new medication, or after a bout of illness, there can be significant setbacks in cardiac health.
Additionally, physical therapists are trained to recognize signs of overexertion or complications that may require medical intervention. By working closely with the patient and their healthcare team, a physical therapist can help prevent setbacks and ensure safe recovery.
If you or someone you know is at risk for heart disease, or recovering from a heart-related event, consider reaching out to a physical therapist who can guide you through a personalized rehabilitation plan. A PT’s perspective on managing Heart Disease can help you start down the right path. Your heart health is in your hands, and with the right support, you can take steps toward a healthier, stronger heart.