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Heart disease and heart failure are systemic cardiovascular diseases. They can affect exercise tolerance, endurance, and quality of life. Heart diseases make it difficult for a person’s heart to keep up with their body’s daily demands.

Heart disease is widespread. It resulted in 859,125 deaths in the United States in 2017, according to the American Heart Association. It also is the leading cause of death globally, with 17.8 million related deaths in 2017. This number is expected to grow to more than 2.2 million by 2030. Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death each year, taking more lives than cancer and lung diseases combined.

Heart failure affects an estimated 6.2 million Americans older than age 20. This number is expected to increase to affect greater than 8 million adults by the year 2030.

If you have heart disease or heart failure, a physical therapist can work with you to help keep it from getting worse. Plus, physical therapists also can help people reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Working with a physical therapist can improve your:

• Exercise capacity

• Strength and endurance

• Overall health and well-being

Physical and occupational therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement therapies. You can contact a ZK Outpatient Rehabilitation Center directly for an evaluation. Click here to schedule an appointment or a free telephone consultation.

Source: choosept, zkorc