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Seniors who participate in high-intensity exercise are may see an improvement in their heart function, according to research led by a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist and presented at the 30th Annual American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon.
While at the University of California San Francisco, lead author Chete Eze-Nliam, M.D. – now a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic – and a team of researchers found diastolic function improved and systolic function remained unchanged in those seniors who exercise at a high intensity level.
Forty-five percent of the group regularly took part in high-intensity exercise. The high intensity group was likely to have their upper heart chamber more dilated than other groups. More studies are needed to understand why.
“Exercise is beneficial at all ages,” said Dr. Eze-Nliam. “As we age, our hearts age too. We found the more intense the exercise, the more the heart function improved.”
Participants were broken up into three groups based on the intensity and the sport, with echocardiograms performed on all study participants to show their heart function. The groups included low intensity (i.e. casual walker), moderate intensity (i.e. tennis) and high intensity (i.e. sprint running). Researchers studied 17 8 participants, 48 percent were men, at the World Senior Games in St. Georges, Utah, that were 50 years old and older, with an average age of 68.
Dr. Eze-Nliam said it is important to note more research is needed, and individual patients should always check with their healthcare provider before starting an exercise program.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 66,000 employees are more than 4,200 salaried physicians and researchers and 16,600 nurses, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic’s health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 11 regional hospitals in northeast Ohio, more than 180 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2018, there were 7.9 million total outpatient visits, 238,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 220,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CCforMedia and twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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