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Heart Failure Risk Assessment

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1. Impact of physical activity and exercise in the heart failure patient
1.1 Risk Assessment
Risk stratification is vital in the assessment of cardiac patients earmarked for physical training programmes, this is to ensure patients receive appropriate levels of scrutiny and exercise intensity. The effect and type of exercise prescribes affects individuals differently depending on the type of event they suffered therefore, exercise prescription must be based on their functional capacity. In other to have accurate picture of the state of heath of the individual current, previous medical diagnoses and procedures must be reviewed, as well as to ascertain the susceptibility to strenuous physical activities including physical examination like blood …show more content…
To achieve an optimum outcome, three main strategies in cardiac rehabilitation programmes, exercise, education and psychobehavioural support according to Guiraud et al (2011), must be constantly infused together for the greater good. There are differing types of training available on any given CR programme therefore appropriate type must be allocated to a patient after comprehensive risk assessment has been conducted and all risk modification completed as stated in paragraph 3.1. Downing et al (2011) recommends standard exercise training like aerobic activity performed at least 30 minutes, 5 or more days/week, with specific parameters that define exercise intensity, duration, and frequency. One study that showed aerobic training can increase mitochondrial and aerobic enzymes in skeletal muscle, leading to improvements in energy metabolism and exercise tolerance. In other words, exercise training must be measured for its intensity, effects and overall suitability to the individual. A prescription for physical activity must evidently be effective and risk-free, and yet the main goal for therapist should be to seek out compliance while at the same time instigating pleasurable changes of lifestyles, this is to elicit compliance (Guiraud et al., 2011; Okita et al., 2013). It is imperative to tailored exercise to the needs to of the individual bearing in mind the compliance capacity and tolerance levels. Patients needs to be categorized into groups base on the result of the risk assessment. For example, an older patient must not be prescribed exercises that will be physically impossible to

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