Congestive heart failure and exercise

Overview

 * Patient should have uninterrupted exercise at least four days a week including a walking program.
 * Patients with heart failure should avoid weightlifting which increases afterload.
 * The patient should not routinely lift more than 20 pounds, again which may increase afterload.
 * Patients can continue their sexual activity. 2.5 or 5.0 mg of sublingual nitroglycerine can be taken before sexual activity to improve exercise capacity.

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Initial Clinical Assessment Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. In patients presenting with heart failure, initial assessment should be made of the patient’s ability to perform routine and desired activities of daily living. (Level of Evidence: C)}}

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Serial Clinical Assessment Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. Assessment should be made at each visit of the ability of a patient with heart failure to perform routine and desired activities of daily living. (Level of Evidence: C)}}

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Exercise training Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. Exercise training is beneﬁcial as an adjunctive approach to improve clinical status in ambulatory patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). (Level of Evidence: B)

Class IIa
1. Maximal exercise testing with or without measurement of respiratory gas exchange is reasonable to facilitate prescription of an appropriate exercise program for patients presenting with heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C)}}

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

 * The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Guidelines Resources

 * The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult


 * 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation