Toronto, ON (June 10, 2015) – Using a proactive approach to encourage optimal heart health through a blend of leading medical knowledge and best practices in fitness and exercise, the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre today unveiled a new website featuring medical information, step-by-step instruction and individual exercise videos as part of a proven effective fitness program.
It is designed primarily for patients with a cardiac condition caused by an enlarged heart muscle and also applicable to those seeking to improve their overall cardiac health.
"Saving lives and improving the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease is the focal point of our work, so too is providing patients with quality educational resources and the tools to support them in managing their condition or to prevent the onset of heart disease in the first place," says Dr. Barry Rubin, Medical Director, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (UHN). "This type of website resource is designed to do just that, with trusted medical, health and fitness information accessible to both heart patients and anyone else," he says.
The website,
www.hcmfitness.ca, was created to support hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients, who suffer a myriad of health challenges including, shortness of breath, fainting spells, chest pain and even sudden death due to the presence of a thickened heart muscle which adds stress and workload for the heart. About one in 500 people are affected by HCM, an often undiagnosed condition that has been found to have genetic links.
"A safe, effective and comprehensive fitness regimen for HCM and other cardiac patients is imperative following surgery or any other type of intervention on the heart," says Dr. Harry Rakowski, cardiologist, Peter Munk Cardiac, Centre and internationally-recognized expert on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, who provided medical expertise to design the wellness and exercise programs and has experienced the benefits of the fitness program first-hand.
"These exercises have been developed taking into account the physical limitations HCM patients and others with cardiac disease face when considering what type of exercise they can adopt. Ours is a holistic approach to fitness that is safe, simple and free for anyone looking to sustain or strengthen their heart health," he says.
Each of the more than 70 exercise videos is demonstrated by a personal trainer, who also designed the program. Every exercise level considers: postural correction, flexibility, core stability, muscular endurance and strength, cardiovascular exercise, relaxation and breathing techniques.
About the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and the Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital - members of University Health Network.
www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca
Media Contact
Phone: 416 340 4636
Email: UHN.News@uhn.ca
