LOVE YOUR HEART AND HELP CUT WELSH CARDIAC PROBLEMS, SAY EXPERTS
On a significant day for Welsh hearts, it is time for the Welsh
public to focus on exercise and sport in the fight against heart
disease in Wales, according to health experts.
The Welsh public are being urged to take control of their own
heart health by making a commitment to take part in more sport and
exercise and help cut the 11,000
deaths1 every year, and thousands more
who suffer with heart illness.
Experts from the NHS, education, Welsh Assembly Government and
Sport Wales have joined up to promote the heart health message on
St. Dwynwen's Day (Tuesday 25th January) - the Patron
Saint of Welsh Lovers.
The collaboration follows the launch of a sector-wide Vision for
Sport in Wales, which was devised by Sport Wales and industry
partners to highlight sport's many positive impacts.
At Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University Health Board, experts
at Morriston Hospital's cardiac unit carry out around 1800 complex
procedures every year -including open heart surgery - and have
achieved "higher than expected" survival rates in UK-wide
reports.
And according to Dr James Barry, a consultant cardiologist at
Morriston Hospital's Regional Cardiac Centre, the prevalence of
coronary artery disease would be positively influenced by healthier
lifestyles, including exercise.
He said:
"We have known for a long time that the more a group of
people exercise the less coronary heart disease is seen in the
group.
"The levels of exercise needed are not huge but
unfortunately as few as one in four adults in the UK achieve them.
And it is not too late to start. Exercise, initially as part of a
rehabilitation programme, can greatly impact upon a patient's
recovery after a heart attack.
"Exercise has many effects upon the heart; it trains it
to pump more efficiently reducing the demand for oxygen, it
encourages new coronary arteries to take over from blocked and
narrowed arteries - in effect performing nature's own bypass
- and it has been shown to slow down the narrowing of coronary
arteries.
"As well as changes to the heart exercise also helps by
lowering blood pressure, changes lipid profiles and increases the
body's sensitivity to insulin."
Sport Wales is aspiring to get every child hooked on sport for
life so they see a lifetime of benefits.
Dr Mark Ridgewell (pictured left), a sports
physician for Sport Wales, looks after the health of Welsh
athletes, including those who competed at the recent Commonwealth
Games.
A practising GP he is head of sports medicine at the Football
Association of Wales and sports physician for the Scarlets rugby
squad.
Keen to back the exercise for a healthy heart message he
said:
"Certainly, I think that I'd see fewer patients with
heart disease if exercise had been a regular part of their
lives.
"The balance of activity is an important point. There is
a lot of pressure for people to reduce their calorie intake but
exercise is just as important. If a person burns off more calories
than they eat then they will keep fit and healthy.
"There's been much effort put into reducing incidence of
smoking and calorie content and diet. Perhaps now is the time to
focus on physical activity and sport.
"It's about building exercise and sport into a routine.
Exercise needs to be regular - ideally for 30 minutes five times a
week. If that's not possible then more intense exercise at least
three times a week.
"Exercise doesn't have to be gym based, we know that
some people can be intimidated with the idea of going to the gym.
Jogging and walking can give a good cardiovascular workout, or even
dancing. It's just about changing habits.
"Sport in a club or group can be good because of the
sheer variety of activity and the social aspect. But it's all about
getting that intensity and making sure it's regular.
"At my own practice in the Mumbles we have quite an
active population. So, even though we have a high proportion of
more elderly residents, the rate of heart disease is lower than in
many urban areas that have a younger population."
Research suggests that a higher level of physical fitness in
childhood and adolescence is associated with a healthier
cardiovascular profile and with a lower risk of developing CVD
later in life.2
Professor Robert Shave has studied the impact of exercise and
physical activity on the cardiovascular system in a career
including work at Brunel University, the British Olympic Medical
Centre and now University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC).
A renowned expert in sport and exercise physiology for endurance
athletes, the general patient population and victims of heart
attack, he explained:
"Exercise is an area that's often overlooked in terms of
its importance to health. There is an argument that it is the most
important factor to health.
"The heart is a muscle and can be trained to work more
efficiently. Exercise training can decrease blood pressure and
reduce heart rate, meaning that the work the heart does and the
overall strain on it is reduced.
"In general, the activities for daily living will become
easier through exercise.
"To date, much work has focused on diet, however, it is
possible that 'fitness' not 'fatness' is the most important issue
when looking at the health of the heart."
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death in
the United Kingdom, and particularly in Wales, where the death rate
is greater than in the majority of the countries in Western
Europe.
There is evidence that there appears to be a linear relationship
between physical activity and health status, with the greatest
improvements seen when people who are least fit become
active.3
Last year, a programme to help people reduce their risk of
developing chronic health conditions was praised for its economic
impact following a major evaluation undertaken by Cardiff and
Bangor universities.
The Welsh National Exercise Referral Scheme enables GPs and
other health professionals to refer patients at risk of chronic
disease to a structured exercise programme that will help them to
improve their health.
Dr Tony Jewell, Wales's Chief Medical Officer said:
"Physical activity is a key part of a
healthy lifestyle. We recognise the health and financial cost to
the individual and the health service of a lack of physical
activity. We've been working hard to address this and
the exercise referral scheme is an
important, constructive step to encourage people with chronic
illnesses to make exercise an essential part of everyday
life.
"Our Change 4 Life campaign is aimed at
encouraging more people to become more active more often and
research shows that being physical active, taking exercise and
playing sport can not only improve your physical health and be good
for your heart, it also benefits your mental well-being.
"
People who have a pre-existing health condition should
speak with their GP first before embarking on
exercise.
To find out more about the Vision for Sport in Wales
click here or visit www.sportwales.org.uk.
About Gary Langdon
After a quintuple heart bypass and new heart valve, Gary Langdon
is keeping himself in shape for the future with regular exercise
sessions.
The 70 year-old from Clydach, near Swansea, had suffered with
angina since 1991 before needed the major surgery at Morriston
Hospital in 2005.
With regular fitness sessions at his local Forge Fach Community
Resource Centre, he is benefitting from exercise more than
ever.
The former engineering business owner said:
"With the angina I couldn't really do much exercise,
then I had the big surgery.
"After a few months of recovery I was put on the
exercise programme at the hospital. There was a really good
selection of machines - bikes, treadmills and steppers. I was
nervous at first but my chest was monitored and I gradually got my
confidence.
"When I left hospital I carried on in a community group,
and now I go to a few sessions a week. I do plenty of
cardiovascular exercise to strengthen the heart.
"My cardiologist keeps telling me to keep it up because
I'm benefitting so much. I feel like I could keep going like this
forever.
"I enjoy walking and cycling with my wife and make sure
eat well."
About Phil Jones
Aged 69, Phil Jones is one person who has kept a clean bill of
health and is still cycling for Bynea Cycling Club, in Llanelli,
after more than half a century in the saddle.
His father Authur first took him out on leisurely rides when he
was just 12. Phil, who lives in Pwll, and cycles almost every day,
has been hooked ever since.
He said:
"I used to go riding with my father on country routes
around Llanelli and down to Kidwelly. When I was 16 I did my first
time trial and got into the competitive side of
cycling.
"When I was 35 I was the top time trialist in Wales at
50 miles, 100 miles and the 12 hour marathons.
"I progressed to veteran at 40 and kept winning titles
for my age group. When I got to 60 I was the quickest time trialist
in West Wales over 20, 30 and 50 miles and that's still the case
now I'm over 65.
"I love cycling, it's my passion. I try and get out on
the bike every day. If it's icy on the roads I'll go on my turbo
machine in the garage.
"The exercise does something for me, I always feel
better afterwards. I've never had a really bad
illness.
"I worked shifts for 44 years and used to go out cycling
in between work. I just got into the habit.
"There's the social side to the club as well as keeping
fit. I'd encourage anyone to have a go."