Walking may prevent heart failure in senior women
New research examines the effect of walking on two subtypes of heart failure in aging women. The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.
According to recent estimates, almost 5 million people in the United States have congestive heart failure.
Over half a million cases are diagnosed each year.
Despite its name, "heart failure" does not mean that the heart has stopped working completely, explain the American Heart Association (AHA).
In congestive heart failure, the heart is not pumping blood as well as it should be.
Heart failure occurs in two main ways: either the muscles of the heart weaken, or they become stiff and lose their elasticity.
Although the condition affects people of all ages, it is more prevalent among seniors over the age of 60. The AHA recommend that people at risk avoid smoking, exercise more, and eat heart-healthy foods.
A new study delves deeper into one of these potential strategies for prevention. Researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York set out to investigate how walking affects two heart failure subtypes: reduced ejection fraction heart failure, and preserved ejection fraction heart failure.
Michael LaMonte, a research associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, led the study.
