Mexico Sees Improvements in Heart Failure with Diet and Exercise

24 Nov 2015 --- Doctors in Mexico have demonstrated the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise in patients with heart failure, with research presented at the Mexican Congress of Cardiology 2015.

Heart failure is a life-threatening condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Typical symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling in the extremities and fatigue. In Mexico there are 750,000 patients living with heart failure and the problem is increasing. An estimated 75,000 additional patients have heart failure each year.

"Only 25% of men and 38% of women with heart failure remain alive after five years," said Dr. Arturo Orea, author and coordinator of the cardiology department at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico City. "Medication can improve the outcome of heart failure, but for most patients the future is still not very bright".

Previous research by Dr. Orea shows that 40% of heart failure patients in Mexico had diabetes, 41% had high cholesterol, 57% had elevated triglycerides, one quarter were obese, 55% had hypertension, 31 % smoked and less than 1% were physically active.

For patients with heart failure, aerobic exercise is usually recommended to improve symptoms and the ability to perform daily activities. But more evidence of the benefits of a healthy diet is needed. "There are no specific guidelines on the amount of carbohydrates, fats and proteins that heart failure patients should eat," added Dr. Orea. "It is recommended to limit sodium and fluids but no guidelines are available for other minerals."

Dr. Orea’s group investigated the effect of diet and exercise in patients with heart failure. A study presented for the first time in the Mexican Congress of Cardiology found that after just four months, 84 patients who followed a low carbohydrate diet (40-50% carbohydrate, 30-40% protein and 20% fat) and who performed aerobic and resistance exercise had reduced blood pressure and total body water compared to a control group of 38 patients.

"These results indicate that a low carbohydrate diet and exercise benefits patients with heart failure," said Dr. Orea. "This could be due to the fact that carbohydrates require more oxygen and respiratory effort for increased metabolism than fat and proteins. Furthermore, increased consumption of saturated fat could improve the integrity and function of cells. Exercise improves endothelial function (increasing the vessel diameter and blood flow), so that there is a better supply of nutrients and oxygen as well as improved waste elimination ".

In another study, researchers evaluated the impact of sodium intake, potassium and magnesium in the hospitalization and death of 129 patients with heart failure over two years. Sodium intake was lower in patients who died, and patients who consumed less than 200 mg per day of magnesium had three times the risk of hospitalization or death.

Dr. Orea said: "Patients with heart failure should ensure they have enough magnesium in their diet by eating green leafy vegetables, nuts, fish, whole grains and bananas. Our finding of a lower sodium intake in patients who died could be explained by the fact that when low sodium intake is excessive, the renin-angiotensin system is more active, which can raise blood pressure. "

Dr. Marco A. Peña Duque, president of the Mexican Society of Cardiology, said "the main cause of heart failure in Mexico approximately 20-25 years ago was rheumatic heart disease and today the leading cause is ischemic heart disease. We need additional research on different treatments to try to reduce mortality from heart failure. "

Professor Stephan Achenbach, vice president of Global Affairs and Communications ESC, enthusiastically supported research by Dr. Orea and his group: "Heart failure is a growing epidemic in the world and it is clear that no single medication is enough. Modifying lifestyle should be an essential part of the management of patients with heart failure, not only for treatment but also for prevention. This research helps us better understand the effects of this. "