Exercise and cardiomyopathy
Many sufferers of chronic illness experience a decrease in their capacity for exercise, and cardiomyopathy patients are no exception. That’s why exercise and cardiomyopathy is such an important combination, with fitness training often recommended as part of a comprehensive approach to the condition.
Exercise and cardiomyopathy
It is important to note that while there can be exercise-affecting abnormalities caused by cardiomyopathy (i.e. leg blood-flow decreases), the relationship between lack of exercise and cardiomyopathy is quite weak. There should be no standing reason a cardiomyopathy patient cannot engage in at least some exercise routine. Even patients who have cardiomyopathy-induced breathing problems find a reduction in symptoms once respiratory muscle training has begun.
The benefits of exercise and cardiomyopathy training are primarily peripheral (indirect) changes, like increased muscle-oxygen extraction, better leg blood flow, lower lactate levels, and larger leg muscle area. There are some direct or central benefits as well, however. These include enhanced vagal tone (brain muscles/cells) and decreased sympathetic nervous system activity (involuntary stress). Even further, many patients of cardiomyopathy experience deficient strength or glucocorticoid-induced myopathy. Once again exercise, and cardiomyopathy patients have proven this in the past, has been shown to provide at least 50% prevention of both.
There are many different forms of exercise, and cardiomyopathy patients should talk to their doctors about what level of intensity would work best for them. But effective exercise can come in the form of anything from 15 minutes of bike riding up to 5 times a week or simply walking 3 times a week.
Exercise and cardiomyopathy should never be an overlooked connection, and can be beneficial to your health, lifespan, and state-of-mind.