Congestive heart failure: training for a better life.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients who exercise regularly can increase exercise tolerance, decrease dyspnea and fatigue, reduce the risk of arrhythmias, and improve quality of life. Initial stress testing is important for assessing a patient's physiologic response to exercise and for establishing a target heart rate for an individualized exercise program. Patients may need to begin aerobic exercise with interval training and progress slowly. Strength exercise is also useful. Exercise used along with the customarily prescribed CHF medications improves symptoms more than either modality alone.
Clark
J R
JR
Medical Fitness, Charlottesville, VA, USA.