Atrial fibrillation happens when one, or both, of the top chambers of the heart - left and right atrium - fibrillate (quiver) instead of beating normally. It is a type of irregular heart rate (arrhythmia).
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation may include:
- dizziness
- fainting spells
- heart palpitations or ‘fluttering’ heartbeat
- irregular pulse
- weakness or tiredness
It is important to recognise and treat atrial fibrillation to prevent complications such as stroke and heart failure. Some people do not have symptoms.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with atrial fibrillation, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiovascular and heart conditions
Cardiomyopathy is caused by a damaged heart muscle. The disease makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body. There are various types of cardiomyopathy, with different causes, affecting a broad range of people.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cardiomyopathy and a person’s age, and may include:
- abdomen bloating
- breathlessness – resting or moving
- chest pain, discomfort or pressure
- coughing – while lying down
- dizziness, feeling faint, light headedness
- fatigue
- heart palpitations – fluttering, rapid or pounding
- swelling of ankles, legs, feet - due to fluid retention
Children become breathless and may find it difficult to keep up with friends. They may also have a cough, nausea, reduced appetite, stomach pains.
For babies, symptoms may include heavy breathing or sweating while feeding, and poor weight gain.
In early stages, some people do not have symptoms. For some people, the condition worsens quickly, in others, not for a long time.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with cardiomyopathy.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with cardiomyopathy, and having a relatively normal life.
Some people with cardiomyopathy will need medicines, others need surgery, and some will need an implantable device to keep their heart pumping properly.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiomyopathy
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of heart disease.
When the heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, this is known as CHD.
The accumulation of fatty deposits can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle (diet, smoking, inactivity), and related conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension).
The main forms of CHD are heart attack and angina.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with coronary heart disease.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with coronary heart disease, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiovascular and heart conditions
As the heart pumps blood around the body, pressure placed on the walls of blood vessels alters. A medical practitioner can test blood pressure. A reading above 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure (hypertension).
A normal blood pressure is important for blood flow to the organs, hence maintaining overall health. Sustained high blood pressure increases the likelihood of diabetes, erectile dysfunction, eye disease, heart attack, heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
Symptoms of high blood pressure may include:
- dizziness
- headache
Many people feel well and do not have symptoms, so regular blood pressure tests by a medical practitioner are important.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with high blood pressure (hypertension).
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with hypertension, and having a relatively normal life.
Some people need to take medication for life to keep blood pressure at a normal level. For some people, losing weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle reduces the need for medicines.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with high blood pressure (hypertension)
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/peripheral-vascular-disease
Peripheral vascular disease occurs when fatty deposits build up in the inner walls of arteries outside of the brain and heart, mainly affecting blood circulation to legs and feet.
Symptoms may include:
- brittle toenails
- hair loss
- pain when resting or walking
- shiny skin
A build-up of fatty deposits in arteries can be a precursor to other serious cardiovascular diseases such as angina, and lead to heart attack.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with peripheral vascular disease.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with peripheral vascular disease, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with peripheral vascular disease
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stroke
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. If blood supply is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die, and can lead to brain damage and possibly death.
Symptoms (remembered by 'FAST' acronym) include:
Face — Facial drooping – usually on one side or eye and mouth
Arms — Unable to lift one or both arms
Speech — Slurred, garbled or unable to speak
Time - Critical to call triple zero (000) for an ambulance
Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes also increase risk of stroke. Previous stroke is also risk for additional strokes, so a healthy lifestyle is an essential component of prevention.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well after a stroke, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people who have had a stroke
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) has similar symptoms to a stroke but only last a few minutes and do not cause permanent damage. A TIA is often a precursor to a stroke and therefore referred to as a ‘mini-stroke’.
One in 3 people who have a TIA will have a stroke, sometimes within a few hours. The biggest risk is in the first year after a TIA.
Symptoms of a TIA include:
- blurred vision or temporary blindness
- difficulty swallowing
- facial numbness or weakness
- loss of balance
- nausea and vomiting
- severe, sudden headache
- slurred speech
- speech disturbance (unable to say what you're thinking, or using wrong words)
- weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
- vertigo (spinning sensation)
- vision disturbances (double vision or not being able to see to the left or right)
Unlike a stroke, most symptoms will disappear within an hour if it is a TIA.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living well after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and preventing a stroke.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well after a transient ischaemic attack.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people who have had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation happens when one, or both, of the top chambers of the heart – left and right atrium – fibrillate (quiver) instead of beating normally. It is a type of irregular heart rate (arrhythmia).
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation may include:
- dizziness
- fainting spells
- heart palpitations or ‘fluttering’ heartbeat
- irregular pulse
- weakness or tiredness
It is important to recognise and treat atrial fibrillation to prevent complications such as stroke and heart failure. Some people do not have symptoms.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with atrial fibrillation, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiovascular and heart conditions
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is caused by a damaged heart muscle. The disease makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body. There are various types of cardiomyopathy, with different causes, affecting a broad range of people.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cardiomyopathy and a person’s age, and may include:
- abdomen bloating
- breathlessness – resting or moving
- chest pain, discomfort or pressure
- coughing – while lying down
- dizziness, feeling faint, light headedness
- fatigue
- heart palpitations – fluttering, rapid or pounding
- swelling of ankles, legs, feet – due to fluid retention
Children become breathless and may find it difficult to keep up with friends. They may also have a cough, nausea, reduced appetite, stomach pains.
For babies, symptoms may include heavy breathing or sweating while feeding, and poor weight gain.
In early stages, some people do not have symptoms. For some people, the condition worsens quickly, in others, not for a long time.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with cardiomyopathy.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with cardiomyopathy, and having a relatively normal life.
Some people with cardiomyopathy will need medicines, others need surgery, and some will need an implantable device to keep their heart pumping properly.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiomyopathy
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of heart disease.
When the heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, this is known as CHD.
The accumulation of fatty deposits can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle (diet, smoking, inactivity), and related conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension).
The main forms of CHD are heart attack and angina.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with coronary heart disease.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with coronary heart disease, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with cardiovascular and heart conditions
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
As the heart pumps blood around the body, pressure placed on the walls of blood vessels alters. A medical practitioner can test blood pressure. A reading above 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure (hypertension).
A normal blood pressure is important for blood flow to the organs, hence maintaining overall health. Sustained high blood pressure increases the likelihood of diabetes, erectile dysfunction, eye disease, heart attack, heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
Symptoms of high blood pressure may include:
- dizziness
- headache
Many people feel well and do not have symptoms, so regular blood pressure tests by a medical practitioner are important.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with high blood pressure (hypertension).
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with hypertension, and having a relatively normal life.
Some people need to take medication for life to keep blood pressure at a normal level. For some people, losing weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle reduces the need for medicines.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with high blood pressure (hypertension)
Peripheral Vascular Disease
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/peripheral-vascular-disease
Peripheral vascular disease occurs when fatty deposits build up in the inner walls of arteries outside of the brain and heart, mainly affecting blood circulation to legs and feet.
Symptoms may include:
- brittle toenails
- hair loss
- pain when resting or walking
- shiny skin
A build-up of fatty deposits in arteries can be a precursor to other serious cardiovascular diseases such as angina, and lead to heart attack.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living with peripheral vascular disease.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well with peripheral vascular disease, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people with peripheral vascular disease
Stroke
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stroke
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. If blood supply is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die, and can lead to brain damage and possibly death.
Symptoms (remembered by ‘FAST’ acronym) include:
Face — Facial drooping – usually on one side or eye and mouth
Arms — Unable to lift one or both arms
Speech — Slurred, garbled or unable to speak
Time – Critical to call triple zero (000) for an ambulance
Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes also increase risk of stroke. Previous stroke is also risk for additional strokes, so a healthy lifestyle is an essential component of prevention.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well after a stroke, and having a relatively normal life.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people who have had a stroke
Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) has similar symptoms to a stroke but only last a few minutes and do not cause permanent damage. A TIA is often a precursor to a stroke and therefore referred to as a ‘mini-stroke’.
One in 3 people who have a TIA will have a stroke, sometimes within a few hours. The biggest risk is in the first year after a TIA.
Symptoms of a TIA include:
- blurred vision or temporary blindness
- difficulty swallowing
- facial numbness or weakness
- loss of balance
- nausea and vomiting
- severe, sudden headache
- slurred speech
- speech disturbance (unable to say what you’re thinking, or using wrong words)
- weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
- vertigo (spinning sensation)
- vision disturbances (double vision or not being able to see to the left or right)
Unlike a stroke, most symptoms will disappear within an hour if it is a TIA.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for living well after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and preventing a stroke.
Physical activity, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, minimising salt intake, seeing a medical practitioner regularly and taking prescribed medications is essential to living well after a transient ischaemic attack.
Following a tailored Exercise Care Plan created by our qualified Exercise Physiologist can benefit people who have had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
