Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) includes diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. Stroke, coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure are the most common cardiovascular diseases in Australia and are the leading causes of death. CVD risk factors include inactivity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and obesity.

Some CVD risk factors, such as genetic-related family history, can't be changed however they can be addressed and modified with a fitness routine. The non-genetic Cardiovascular Disease risk factors can be reduced when following a tailored fitness plan that will work for you and your body.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia, with 120 deaths attributed to CVD every day. One in six Australians are affected by CVD, with prevalence increasing with age. Despite improvements over the last few decades, it remains a high burden on the economy

Exercise plays a critical role in managing and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Regular physical activity can help improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of developing CVD, and enhance overall well-being.

Exercise and strength training has many benefits for those with cardiovascular disease including:

• Lowering levels of cholesterol
• Managing blood sugar and blood pressure
• Improving muscle strength/endurance
• Improving oxygen consumption (effectiveness of oxygen being delivered to organs and being used)
• Weight management
• Improving cardiorespiratory health

Moderate intensity aerobic exercise should be undertaken on most to all days of the week and strength training should be completed at a minimum of twice per week. For more information on the benefits of exercise and strength training for heart health, click here.

Accredited Exercise Physiologists provide exercise and lifestyle programs for the prevention and continual management of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. If you have pre-diabetes indicators, an Exercise Physiologist has the expertise to create a plan to reduce or delay the onset on diabetes. Additional benefits a qualified Exercise Physiologist can provide include improvement in heart health, rehabilitation following a cardiac arrest, overcoming persistent and severe pain, increase recovery following cancer treatment and provide improvement in general health and wellbeing. 

Have you recently had a heart operation, or received a cardiovascular disease diagnosis? Are you looking to improve your cardiovascular health and fitness? If so, consider joining our specific cardiovascular disease and cardiac rehab exercise class called Kieser Kardiac. Classes are run by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and are designed to help manage your condition with an evidenced-based and individualised program. Classes are run in small groups and are available to both Kieser members and non-members. An assessment with an Exercise Physiologist needs to be conducted before joining any group class.

If you're interested in joining Kieser's cardiac group class, click here to request a booking for an initial assessment with an Exercise Physiologist.