Benefits of Exercise on Coronary Heart Disease

Background Information

By Chloe Fiddy

The coronary arteries are the blood vessels responsible for supplying the heart with oxygenated blood. In patients who suffer from coronary heart disease (CHD), the walls of these blood vessels become built up with a fatty material called atheroma, thus causing a narrowing of the arteries and therefore a reduced blood flow. This build-up of atheroma is called atherosclerosis. The atherosclerosis will cause patients to suffer from symptoms of pain and discomfort known as angina. In some cases, pieces of the atheroma will break off and consequently block the coronary artery and all blood flow into the heart will stop. The heart will never fully recover from this and will remain permanently damaged. This is known as a heart attack (Bhf.org.uk, 2019). Read my page to find out more about the background information of coronary heart disease.

 Benefits of Endurance Training

By Lauren Gubby

Endurance training is a type of exercise which trains the aerobic systems of the body, by increasing breathing and heart rate and has been shown to have many different physiological effects on the body. Examples of endurance training activities include walking, running and swimming. (www.heart.org, 2019) Read my page to find out more about the effects of endurance training on CHD.

Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

By Lewis Humphrys.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a form of exercise that uses short intervals of high-intensity exercise interspersed with regular resting periods (Ribeiro et al., 2017). This form of exercise has previously been incorporated into the training regime of elite athletes, with positive results (Helgerud et al., 2011). Could this method be used in place of traditional exercise regimes in order to increase the health and well-being of individuals suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD)? Read my page to find out more about the effects of HIIT on CHD. 

Benefits of Resistance Training

By James Parmar.

Resistance training, also known as strength training is a form of exercise that induces muscle contraction usually to build up strength and anaerobic ability. It is called resistance training as it usually involves lifting or pulling against resistance such as lifting weights, stretching power bands etc. It involves many repetitions of a single event, such as a bicep curl, to build strength in that muscle [Nuffield Health, 2018]. Read my page to find out more about the effects of resistance training on CHD.

 

References

Bhf.org.uk. (2019). Coronary heart disease (CHD). [online] Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/coronary-heart-disease [Accessed 13 Dec. 2019].

www.heart.org. (2019). Endurance Exercise (Aerobic). [online] Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/endurance-exercise-aerobic [Accessed 9 Dec. 2019].

Helgerud, J., Rodas, G., Kemi, O. and Hoff, J. (2011). Strength and Endurance in Elite Football Players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 32(09), pp.677-682.

Rognmo, Ø., Moholdt, T., Bakken, H., Hole, T., Mølstad, P., Myhr, N., Grimsmo, J. and Wisløff, U. (2013). Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Cardiovascular Risk of High- Versus Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise in Coronary Heart Disease Patients”. Circulation, 127(21).