Researchers have warned that lack of exercise and excessive weight may increase the risk of a type of heart failure that is particularly challenging to treat. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to supply enough oxygenated blood to meet the demands of the body.
Associate professor at UT Southwestern Medical Centre in the US, Jarett Berry said, previous studies have consistently found an association between low levels of physical activity, high Body Mass Index, BMI and overall risk of heart failure. Berry added, this study shows that the association is more pronounced for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the type of heart failure that is the most challenging to treat.
The difference between the two types of heart failure is that in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the heart does not relax enough, while in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction the heart doesn’t squeeze enough.
The incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was 19 per cent lower for individuals who exercised at recommended levels. Similarly, Body Mass Index (BMI) had an inverse relationship with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Higher BMI levels were more strongly associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction than with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.