Can Rowing Reverse Heart Blockage?

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » September 4th, 2004, 9:31 am

I’m 54, ex-smoker and recovering alcoholic. I went on the wagon and quit smoking after a massive bronchitis attack that nearly killed me on January 1, 2001. I complained of chest pains, and ever test imaginable (Cardiolite Stress test, echocardiogram) was run except a cardiac catheterization, which I ruled out when the other tests came out negative. I started an exercise program by buying a treadmill on April 22, 2001. For the longest time I would have to start off slow on the treadmill because of a tightness in the chest. After 10 minutes I could bump the treadmill up in speed. I eventually got up to 4.1 mph at 11% incline. I would stop now and then to rest 30 seconds, then keep going until I had 5 miles on the odometer. I never got above 140 beats per minute on the treadmill. With my treadmill starting to give me problems (it finally died last week) I bought a Model D. My routine is unorthodox at best. I row for 2.5 minutes, rest 30 seconds, and then repeat until I got what I considered a good work out is done. Initially I’d be lucky to survive at 145 beats per minute without getting tired real fast, maybe 1.5 minutes, so I backed off in intensity and rowed at a comfortable level. Now I’m going up to 162 beats per minute with no discomfort at all. If I had minor blockage, can exercising reverse this, or am I’m just conditioning my heart to go at a higher rate without discomfort. BTW, this morning workout was 75 minutes, 17,042 meters, 151.7 watts, 2:12.1/500m. Also, can someone explain what DPS is? My average was 7.8.

[old] Duane Licudi · Post by **[old] Duane Licudi** » September 4th, 2004, 11:09 am

Hi Brian, I did a quick search on google and found a couple of web pages that talk about this: <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/archive/6082.html' target='_blank'>http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/ar ... <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> There have been some studies that show a reversal of coronary artery disease with severe dietary restriction of fat and cholesterol, relaxation therapy, and regular exercise.  </td></tr></table> <a href='http://health.yahoo.com/centers/heart/202.html' target='_blank'>http://health.yahoo.com/centers/heart/2 ... <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> When you become more active, you reduce your risk for CHD in several ways. Physical activity: * Increases the proportion of HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol) in your blood and reduces levels of triglycerides, another type of blood fat that can clog arteries and promote CHD. * Boosts the body's ability to clear away clots in the blood vessels  </td></tr></table> I think DPS stands for "distance per stroke", so I guess your average was 7.8 metres per stroke. I have to admit I wasn't sure what DPS stood for either until after looking it up just now

[old] Bayko · Post by **[old] Bayko** » September 4th, 2004, 11:22 am

Brian, first things first, you seem to be doing things right and have made great progress. Congratulations on that. I don't know if blockages can be reversed so I can't advise you on that. But a cautionary tale: About 20 years ago a good friend of mine, Tony Sapienza of Bradford,MA, died in his mid-fifties and was found to have 80% blockages in his coronary arteries. (Seat5 lives in his hometown and may be able to add something to this). Tony had been a champion runner since his high school days and trained consistently for over 40 years. The day he died he had just finished a 3000m indoor track race at Brown University and set a national age-group record. He walked from the finish line to the bleachers where his family sat then collapsed and died. Unfortunately performance is no guarantee of immunity from serious problems. If you are prone to blockages, don't let your improvements make you cocky enough to throw caution to the wind. Keep exercise, rest, and proper nutrition in good balance. And keep piling up those meters. Rick

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » September 4th, 2004, 6:56 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Duane Licudi @ Sep 4 2004, 10:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> There have been some studies that show a reversal of coronary artery disease with severe dietary restriction of fat and cholesterol, relaxation therapy, and regular exercise.  </td></tr></table> Until recently my HDL was 39. Three months ago I read about a new drug that the makers of Lipitor (I'm on that med) were testing that increases HDL. The article said a massive dose of Niacin will do the same. I started taking 1000 mg a day, no side effects. Last blood test showed HDL of 51, total cholesterol of 130, LDL is 79, Tri is 49. Not dying of heart disease is mixed blessing. 17 members of my family have had cancer. 12 have died, including my mother and father. 3 are in remission, including my sister. Two uncles fighting this damn disease.

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » September 4th, 2004, 7:02 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Bayko @ Sep 4 2004, 10:22 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Unfortunately performance is no guarantee of immunity from serious problems. If you are prone to blockages, don't let your improvements make you cocky enough to throw caution to the wind. Keep exercise, rest, and proper nutrition in good balance. And keep piling up those meters. Rick  </td></tr></table> I'm not cocky. The Concept 2 is the first machine that I wear a heart rate monitor all the time. I'm just surprised that I got up to 162 today with no ill effect. I usually go to a max of 155. As far as blockage, I did not have the gold standard, cardiac catheterization. I refused, and then fired my doctor for insisting on a test that was just a fishing expedition. My new doctor agrees with my feelings on this matter. No cardiac catheterization unless other test shows blockage.

[old] drkcgoh · Post by **[old] drkcgoh** » September 5th, 2004, 10:28 am

Exercising for Wellness and PBs is quite different. It take will power to row long and slow and safely, whereas the temptation to compete is always there, and trying hard for Pbs can be dangerous for someone at risk and with a history of chest pains on exertion. Firstly, a comment on treadmill walking/running. I presume you are not holding on to the treadmill rails, because once you do so, the speed/incline/calories have no more meaning because they measure the stress on your system when you are exercising hands free. Coming to reversal of heart blockage, only work from Dean Ornish seems to show this effect, whereas well controlled studies from others do not show it. The other concern is that even a small plaque may rupture & suddenly swell up to obstruct a vessel that might have shown a small degree of blockage as low as 30%. So even so-called reversal of blockage is not going to protect a person from Sudden Exercise Death. Coming to DPS, if you use Rowpro, you can go into the mode where you can display Distance Per Stroke (DPS) against Heart Rate continuously on adjacent graphs throughout your piece, and save it up to recall the tabular as well as the graphic display for watts, HR, SPM & calories. Rowpro also makes it more interesting with the 3D animation of yur row with a pacer boat beside you, going at the pace you have programmed in. KC62

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » September 5th, 2004, 1:43 pm

I attributed the chest pains that I had to the massive coughing spells I had do to the bronchitis. I'll take my chances with Sudden Exercise Death. Life is a risk, and if you cannot enjoy life, then it is not worth living. If I gave up the exercise I'd be back drinking and smoking, which will definitely send me to an early grave.

[old] drkcgoh · Post by **[old] drkcgoh** » September 5th, 2004, 3:51 pm

Some enjoy competition and time trial Pbs, while others go for distance, like Million Meter Clubs. If enjoyment means only competition without regard to any health consequences, then it falls into the realm of exercise addiction. The choice is open.KC62

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » September 5th, 2004, 4:45 pm

Brian, Good attitude. I like how you think. Endurance exercise is excellent for increasing collateral circulation, building capillaries, increasing performance and life giving enzymes, mitochondria etc. Prolonged faster rowing is excellent for strengthening the stroke volume and power of the heart. Shorter more intense efforts are strengthening to the heart, making sure of keeping any effort within reason and recovering completely between, which is excellent too but needs to be on a strong foundation of endurance and stamina as well as an optimal diet. As to reversing heart blockage, I would say that exercise will not do that on it's own, but will facillitate along with an optimal diet. Having an optimal diet is the #1 most important thing to reverse blockages. With a total cholesterol of 130 it sounds like you are well on your way. The last time I checked mine was 15 years ago. It was 123 then. My blood pressure remains around 97/64 or so. By the way, I ALWAYS hold on to the railing when running on the treadmill, and I won't let anyone run on my treadmill without doing the same. I few years ago I was running along testing one, glanced at my watch, accidently stepped on the side and ended up doing three flips on the belt before the treadmill tossed me off the back. I was okay but have heard of people getting broken arms etc from falling off them in gymnasiums. I would hate for someone to fall off and get a broken hip or worse! So I always hold on to the railing. Even so, my running outside is still much easier and faster than on the treadmill. It doesn't hurt anything and my feeling is that this puts more emphasis on my legs, which is where I want it to be anyway. Also this doesn't seem to make any difference to my speed on the treadmill, but that doesn't mean anything anyway as it's the exercise that counts. I do any timed running outside, and just have an idea of my speed on the treadmill. Keep up the great exercise.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » September 5th, 2004, 5:03 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (brianric @ Sep 4 2004, 06:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> My routine is unorthodox at best. I row for 2.5 minutes, rest 30 seconds, and then repeat  </td></tr></table> Your 30 second breaks sound fine. The first 1 to 2 1/2 minutes is the hardest for me. I consider the 2 minute mark to be the peak, of adjustment. Before that, the exercise stimulus has been increasing. At 2 minutes and after, my body is reaching a steady state of equalization with the stimulus. Thus, depending on the pace, my effort is much easier at the start. Also I row at a steady state for at least 20 minutes before working into any rowing that is any faster than that.

[old] raverlaw · Post by **[old] raverlaw** » September 7th, 2004, 12:37 pm

I doubt that rowing can reverse blocked arteries. Diet, exercise and some medication can slow down or even prevent blockages from occurring or getting worse. None of these factors alone is nearly as effective as a combination of all three. I recommend having a stress echocardiogram. It is non-invasive (as opposed to an angiogram) and permits the cardiologist to observe how your valves and arteries are performing under actual physical stress. All males over 50 should have one at least every five years, and should have cholesterol levels checked annually. If you have a family history of coronary artery disease, have high blood pressure, diabetes, chest pain or high cholesterol levels, you should have the echocardiogram each year. I commend you for exercising and dropping the poor habits. However, exercising your heart to high pulse rates without first having a cardiac check up is a recipe for disaster, especially if you have had chest pains in the past. See a cardiologist, get checked out, and work with the cardiologist to design an exercise and nutrition program that is appropriate for your condition. You can exercise safely and improve your overall cardiac health at the same time. And if you do have blocked arteries, talk with the cardiologist about some of the minimally invasive procedures to correct these conditions - many are performed on an outpatient basis. Once the clogs are gone, your nutrition and exercise program WILL keep the arteries in good shape.

[old] drkcgoh · Post by **[old] drkcgoh** » September 8th, 2004, 11:48 am

Free advice is not valued, and most people only value paid professional advice. But, as a physician who has pracitised for almost 40 years, and personally cared for cardiac rehab patients one on one, I can only try to correct some of the dangerous statements made. Firstly, the treadmill is meant to be an indoor aid to those who do not want to walk/run freely outdoors. But the calibration of speed/grade/calories or MET expended by the exerciser are done Without Holding On to the Rails. I have even trained stroke patients to walk without holding on to the treadmill rails. If you must hold on, do so at the very beginning, but never make it a habit of doing so, and fooling yourself that you are burning so many calories. The display has no more meaning once you do so. A Wellness Physician from Orlando once said that "The moment your hands touch the rails, the Stress test is over"! I have studied a series of treadmill users using the standard Bruce protocol, and some could even reach Stage VI while holding on to the rails, running at a speed of 5mph with a grade of 18% for 18min. But when they were tested the previous day without holding on, they could only manage 12 min, at Stage IV. So how would you grade the patient on his cardiac function? Among the hundreds of cardiac rehab & Wellness patients I have taught to use the treadmill, only 2, including myself have fallen off while looking to the side, & the others have been cautioned not to do so. I have used and maintained the True, Cybex 910, Trotter 685, Life, Johnson. Powerjog, Startrac, Technogym and any make of treadmill I have laid my eyes upon, calibrating them for their accuracy whenever I can. I can add that I used to run 6 hours on the treadmill every Sunday morning for years, even up to 11mph, and Never Hold On to the Rails. I have also tumbled down a hill, slipped while racewalking, and, of course, fallen off the treadmill twice but thankfully broken no bones. Falling can happen anywhere if you are not careful. The other point I wish to make is that the cardiologist is there to help you diagnose & treat your cardiac condition, but to learn how to exercise safely and effectively, you should consult a Sports Medicine Physician who has also been trained in Cardiac Rehab & Exercise Physiology. These are the real experts who have been formally trained in this special field, and researched and attended conferences where such issues are specifically discussed. Heart attacks can happen to even the regular exercise who has taken too long a rest from his usual exercise routine, or pushed too hard in competition. Former President Clinton used to be shown out jogging with his team of bodyguards, and now he is recovering from his Cardiac Bypass Surgery. A cardiologist I know once questioned the value of stents because these only opened up one small part of the whole coronary arterial tree while there may be other missed blockages. You need a more systemic way of unclogging the whole system instead of just those blockages that were big enough to show up on the angiogram. Indeed there was one such study showing that Exercise was more effective than stents in such patients. Finally, it is better to be prudent, and constantly pay attention to all the cardiac risk factors without overdoing the exercise part. Many studies have shown that the greatest risk to cardiac events is the beginning of exercise itself, when the intensity of exertion may be too high. KC62

[old] drkcgoh · Post by **[old] drkcgoh** » September 8th, 2004, 3:39 pm

The paper showing that exercise is better than stenting: Circulation. 2004 Mar 23;109(11):1371-8. Epub 2004 Mar 08. Related Articles, Links Percutaneous coronary angioplasty compared with exercise training in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized trial. Hambrecht R, Walther C, Mobius-Winkler S, Gielen S, Linke A, Conradi K, Erbs S, Kluge R, Kendziorra K, Sabri O, Sick P, Schuler G. Universitat Leipzig, Herzzentrum GmbH, Klinik fur Innere Medizin/Kardiologie, Leipzig, Germany. hamr@medizin.uni-leipzig.de BACKGROUND: Regular exercise in patients with stable coronary artery disease has been shown to improve myocardial perfusion and to retard disease progression. We therefore conducted a randomized study to compare the effects of exercise training versus standard percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting on clinical symptoms, angina-free exercise capacity, myocardial perfusion, cost-effectiveness, and frequency of a combined clinical end point (death of cardiac cause, stroke, CABG, angioplasty, acute myocardial infarction, and worsening angina with objective evidence resulting in hospitalization). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 101 male patients aged < or =70 years were recruited after routine coronary angiography and randomized to 12 months of exercise training (20 minutes of bicycle ergometry per day) or to PCI. Cost efficiency was calculated as the average expense (in US dollars) needed to improve the Canadian Cardiovascular Society class by 1 class. Exercise training was associated with a higher event-free survival (88% versus 70% in the PCI group, P=0.023) and increased maximal oxygen uptake (+16%, from 22.7+/-0.7 to 26.2+/-0.8 mL O2/kg, P<0.001 versus baseline, P<0.001 versus PCI group after 12 months). To gain 1 Canadian Cardiovascular Society class, 6956 dollars was spent in the PCI group versus 3429 dollars in the training group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PCI, a 12-month program of regular physical exercise in selected patients with stable coronary artery disease resulted in superior event-free survival and exercise capacity at lower costs, notably owing to reduced rehospitalizations and repeat revascularizations. Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial KC62

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » September 8th, 2004, 5:46 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (raverlaw @ Sep 7 2004, 11:37 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> I recommend having a stress echocardiogram. It is non-invasive (as opposed to an angiogram) and permits the cardiologist to observe how your valves and arteries are performing under actual physical stress. I commend you for exercising and dropping the poor habits. However, exercising your heart to high pulse rates without first having a cardiac check up is a recipe for disaster, especially if you have had chest pains in the past. See a cardiologist, get checked out, and work with the cardiologist to design an exercise and nutrition program that is appropriate for your condition. You can exercise safely and improve your overall cardiac health at the same time. And if you do have blocked arteries, talk with the cardiologist about some of the minimally invasive procedures to correct these conditions - many are performed on an outpatient basis. Once the clogs are gone, your nutrition and exercise program WILL keep the arteries in good shape.  </td></tr></table> I had a stress echocardiogram, no problems. When the cardiologist recommended a cardiac catheterization after finding nothing wrong on the other test, I refused and "fired" her. My present doctor agrees with no evasive testing unless there is some evidence or other symptoms that a cardiac catheterization may find. Complaining of chest pains after a massive bronchitis attack does not necessarily mean heart problems. I've been exercising steady since April 2001 maintaining a 135 beats per minute. It is only when I got the Concept 2 May 27 that I was able to go to 155 to 162 beats per minute, but it was not right away.

[old] Ikabob · Post by **[old] Ikabob** » September 9th, 2004, 8:53 am

My opinion is to consult closely with your physician(cardiologist). I think that excercise can help blood flow to the heart by setting up collateral vessals. I am not sure if excercise can declog arteries. I also believe that taking a heart rate up to 155-162 is VERY high and may set a heart up for an arrythmia ( ask your doctor). I am just a lay person and definately do not have tried and true answers so these are just my non-expert opinions. Exercise in moderation and with previous heart problems maybe mild excercise at this time is wise. I am one to err on the over-caution side.

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