Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death for men in the U.S.

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Obesity is increasing in epidemic proportions in the United States and most of the Westernized globe.   

The latest studies have shown that the prevalence of obesity throughout the United States has now reached 38%, but even more concerning is the prevalence of severe or morbid obesity.

It is a known fact,that obesity has unfavorable effects on cardiovascular hemodynamics and cardiac function, therefore increasing the risk and prevalence of heart failure (HF).

Cardiorespiratory fitness is favorably associated with most modifiable coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Data indicates that high levels of Cardiorespiratory Fitness may confer resistance to elevations in CHD risk factors.

New research has highlighted the importance of CRF on subsequent CVD and mortality risk. Such studies have emphasized the seriousness of achieving moderate to high levels of CRF in both adults and children.

As author Carl J. Lavie mentions in his article: Therapeutic Cardiorespiratory Fitness to prevent and treat heart Failure. “our data also suggest that only small improvements in CRF with CR are needed to reduce psychological stress and depression and depression-related increased mortality. Although maximal protection may occur at the highest levels of CRF, the biggest “bang for the buck” is observed with moving a patient out of the low CRF category into a moderate level of CRF. This gain in CRF and reduction in risk is within striking range of most adults.”

 

Further studies will be needed to find the adequate amount and type of Physical Activity and Exercise Training to maximally reduce HF risk.

 

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Lavie, Carl J., Ketevian, Steven J., Ventura, Hector O. (2017) Therapeutic Cardiorespiratory Fitness to prevent and treat heart Failure, JACC: Heart Failure or the American College of Cardiology. Volume 5, Issue 5, Pages 375-376

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