Biography
Biography: Erik Thaulow
Abstract
There are essentially few restrictions given for exercise in congenital heart disease (CHD). Severe pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias and risks of sudden drop in cardiac output are the most important factors. In addition some disease (Marfan) collision should be avoided in order to reduce the risk of aortic rupture. A survey on Norwegian children revealed that exercise was very infrequently related to mortality in CHD. It is more important to encourage these patients to be active and also participate in sports than give instructions to avoid sports. Exercise testing is important in individuals both to identify the few in whom exercise should be performed with great care, but most important, to demonstrate to the patient and the family (which should witness the exercise) that exercise activity is safe. Echocardiography done during exercise has been applied in order to study pulmonary hypertension during exercise. This is most often a research tool, but has also in some cases turned out to be of clinical importance. Physical training programs have been applied in CHD. Studies performed conclude that this is safe, there is some increase in oxygen uptake, and activity monitoring has revealed that the effect of such programs is mostly to give the participants greater participation in daily life physical activities. There are several guidelines on exercise in CHD. They should be known by physicians treating CHD patients, but the most important factor is to investigate the individual patients and encourage them to be physically active.