Exercise And The Heart

1. Exercise And The Heart Beth Kalicki Heli J. Roy, PhD, MBA, RD Pennington Biomedical Research Center

2. Role of Exercise on the Heart • Increase in the size and strength of the heart • Expansion of the left and right ventricles • Thickening of the heart muscle • Better delivery of blood to extremities • Relaxation between beats changes • Reduced heart rate Pennington Biomedical Research Center

3. Starting on an exercise program • Contact your doctor to see if it is safe to start exercising • Stress test Pennington Biomedical Research Center

4. Who Can Benefit from Exercise? • Everyone can benefit from exercise. • Exercise should be performed at a moderate intensity level. Especially patients who have heart failure. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

5. Benefits of Exercise • Aerobic Exercise is the most beneficial • walking, jogging, jumping rope, bicycling • Benefits • Strengthens the heart • Normalization of lipid levels • Weight loss Pennington Biomedical Research Center

6. Research on the Benefits of Exercise • Over 2000 heart failure patients. • Separated into two groups: • Standard health care • Health care and aerobic exercise training • After 3 months, the group who exercised, felt better. • Less hospitalizations in the exercise group. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

7. Research on the Benefits of Exercise • An active lifestyle leads to 45% lower risk of heart disease • Reduced risk of hypertension • Helps in hypertension control • Can cut the risk for stroke in half Pennington Biomedical Research Center

8. Exercise Precautions • Always consult a doctor before you begin any exercise program. • Do warm-ups. • Drink water before, during and after exercise. • Wait 30 minutes after eating. • Avoid exercising in high heat and humidity. • Avoid strenuous physical labor if you have heart diseaseor uncontrolled diabetes, seizures, high blood pressure, have had a heart attack within the last six months, have been in heart failure, have unstable angina, a significant valve disease, or those with an aortic aneurysm. • Avoid eating right after exercising. • Continue moving after a vigorous workout. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

9. Other Benefits of Exercise • Regular exercise is associated with a delay in onset of dementia and Alzheimer disease. • Older adults may have a decreased thirst response to fluid deprivation. Adequate fluid intake is important during exercise. • Older individuals who exercise regularly have a lower resting heart rate and blood pressure and improved fitness, balance, and gait.  • Regular exercise and increased antioxidant nutrient intake will decrease oxidative damage to muscles. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

10. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Authors: Beth A. Kalicki Heli J. Roy, RD, PhD Division of Education Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director Pennington Biomedical Research Center Steven Heymsfield, MD, Executive Director Pennington Biomedical Research Center

11. About Our Company… • The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition research center. • Mission: • To promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine. •  The Pennington Center has several research areas, including: •  Clinical Obesity Research • Experimental Obesity • Functional Foods • Health and Performance Enhancement • Nutrition and Chronic Diseases • Nutrition and the Brain • Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging • Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance • The research fostered in these areas can have a profound impact on healthy living and on the prevention of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. •  The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific community and the public about research findings, training programs and research areas, and coordinates educational events for the public on various health issues. •  We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research studies being conducted at the Pennington  Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

12. References • Kevin E. Yarasheski, Exercise, Aging, and Muscle Protein Metabolism . Journal of Gerontology, 2003, Vol. 58A, No. 10, 918–922. • Larson EB. et al. Exercise Is Associated with Reduced Risk for Incident Dementia among Persons 65 Years of Age and Older. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:73-81. • Kendrick, ZV. Exercise, Aging and Nutrition. Southern Medical Journal, 1994: 87 (5): S50-S60. • Limacher MC. Aging and cardiac function: Influence of exercise. Southern Medical Journal 1994: 87 (5): S13-S16. Pennington Biomedical Research Center

13. References 5. McMaster University. (2008, June 4). Brief, Intense Exercise Can Benefit The Heart, Study Shows. Science Daily. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604101529.htm • Protica Incorporated. (2005). Inactive Alert: Essential Proteins for Sedentary People. Inactivity. Retrieved August 25, 2009, from http://walking.about.com/od/healthbenefits/a/telomere1-08.htm?p=1 • Simon, Harvey, MD. (2006). Exercise’s Effects on the Heart. Diet and Exercise. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/healthy/ tips.html • The Cleveland Clinic. (2007). Exercise for a Healthy Heart. Health and Fitness. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.webmd.com/fitness- exercise/exercise-healthy-heart?print=true • The Franklin Institute. (2009). Everyday Heart Health Tips. Healthy Hearts. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/healthy/ tips.html Pennington Biomedical Research Center