Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure Patients
May 13
Iron Deficiency
Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure Patients
Now before you read this excerpt we are not expecting you to run out and buy a bar of iron, iron filings or iron tablets. Remember the most important thing is you and before you make any changes to your lifestyle and that includes chewing a bar of iron you must consult your clinician.
This extract was taken from Vifor Pharma which is part of the Galencia Group.
“Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that significantly impacts an individual’s quality of life and may increase the risk of other health complications, say medical experts. As part of European Heart Failure awareness day, many are urging individuals everywhere to seek iron blood testing to ensure that they do not have the condition.
Studies have shown that one third of all chronic heart failure patients have low levels of iron, and that improving blood levels of the nutrient may have a positive effect on cognitive function, exercise ability and strength.
Therefore, officials from Vifor Pharma are urging more individuals, particularly those with the heart condition to seek iron blood testing and take steps to get more of the nutrient into their system if they are low.
“There is no doubt that iron-deficient anemia impacts the quality of life of chronic heart failure patients, preventing them from undertaking normal everyday activities such as walking which most people take for granted. Many CHF patients with associated IDA are not being diagnosed and treated efficiently,” said Senthil Vel, medical director at the company.
Tags: Heart Failure, Iron deficiency, Quality of life 
Posted in Heart Failure Treatment, Looking after yourself, What you're not told | No Comments
Tai Chi and Heart Failure
Apr 26
Image via Wikipedia
Ever thought of Tai Chi
Tai chi improves the quality of life in people with chronic heart failure, and increases their confidence to take other exercise, although it made no significant difference to their walking capability and peak oxygen uptake says research published in Archives of Internal Medicine which is a peer reviewed medical journal published twice a month by the American Medical Association.
Researchers recruited 100 people with overall similar levels of chronic systolic heart failure and rates of comorbidities who were also demographically similar. They were randomised to either a tai chi-based exercise class for one hour twice a week, or education from a nurse practitioner for the same time, on top of usual care.
After 12 weeks, there were no significant differences between the tai chi and nurse education groups in terms of changes in how far they could walk in six minutes, or their peak oxygen intake.
But measures of quality of life improved more in the tai chi group than in the education group. These patients reported greater feelings of well-being and levels of daily activity, and were more likely to feel confident enough to perform certain exercise-related activities (measured using the Cardiac Exercise Self-Efficacy Instrument). At six months’ follow-up, more than two-thirds (68%) of people in the tai chi group said they were still practising tai chi.
The study’s authors concluded: “Tai chi exercise, a multi-component mind-body training modality that is safe and has good rates of adherence, may provide value in improving daily exercise, quality of life, self-efficacy and mood in patients with systolic heart failure.
As always you must consult a clinician before you start any new exercise.
“A more restricted focus on traditional measured exercise capacity may underestimate the potential benefits of integrated interventions such as tai chi.”
Tags: Archives of Internal Medicine, Health, Heart Failure, Martial arts, Physical exercise, Quality of life, systolic heart failure, Tai chi chuan
Posted in Exercise and Diet | No Comments
