Document Detail


Exercise limitation in chronic heart failure: central role of the periphery.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8890800     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The symptoms of chronic heart failure (CHF) are predominantly shortness of breath and fatigue during exercise and reduced exercise capacity. Disturbances of central hemodynamic function are no longer considered to be the major determinants of exercise capacity. The two symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness are often considered in isolation. A pulmonary abnormality is usually considered to be the cause of abnormal ventilation, and increased dead space ventilation has come to be accepted as a major cause of the increased ventilation relative to carbon dioxide production seen in CHF. Rather than decreased skeletal muscle perfusion, an intrinsic muscle abnormality is considered to be responsible for fatigue. Another abnormality seen in CHF is persistent sympathetic nervous system activation, which is difficult to explain on the basis of baroreflex activation. There is increasing evidence for the importance of skeletal muscle ergoreceptors or metaboreceptors in CHF. These receptors are sensitive to work performed, and activation results in increased ventilation and sympathetic activation. The ergoreflex appears to be greatly enhanced in CHF. We put forward the "muscle hypothesis" as an explanation for many of the pathophysiologic events in CHF. Impaired skeletal muscle function results in ergoreflex activation. In turn, this causes increased ventilation, thus linking the symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue. Furthermore, ergoreflex stimulation may be responsible for persistent sympathetic activation.
Authors:
A L Clark; P A Poole-Wilson; A J Coats
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American College of Cardiology     Volume:  28     ISSN:  0735-1097     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.     Publication Date:  1996 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-12-09     Completed Date:  1996-12-09     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8301365     Medline TA:  J Am Coll Cardiol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1092-102     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiac Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, England, United Kingdom.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Chronic Disease
Exercise*
Exercise Therapy
Fatigue / etiology
Heart Failure / complications,  physiopathology*,  therapy
Hemodynamics
Humans
Lung / physiopathology
Muscle, Skeletal / blood supply,  physiopathology
Respiration

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