Exercise Science – 3,000 word case study of a health related issue considering the nutritional and exercise requirements and their impact.

This case study will explore the interrelationships between exercise, nutrition and health. It will examine, in depth, the physiological mechanisms that underpin fitness, health and disease. The report  will be expected to build upon their previous knowledge of physiological systems and apply this to the specific field of health and well-being.

The case study is on a heart failure patient and requires in-depth analysis of the complications of their disease, the physiology underpinning it and complications of drugs. Exercise and Nutrition must also be taken into account, with suggestions to improve their quality of life.

Case Study:
Female aged 74yrs
Height 1.72 m Weight 109 kg

Heart Failure: Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction 30%, Pacemaker inserted 3 months ago, recent pacemaker interrogation revealed Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, recent angiogram showed normal coronary arteries

Co-morbidities: Hypertension (diagnosed 20 years ago) , Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Early Interstitial Lung Disease

Medication: Carvedilol, Ramipril, Amlodipine, Rivaroxaban

Cycle ergometer exercise test results (starting power 20W with 10 W.min-1 increments)
Test duration 360s Peak Power Output 70W
Rest:  VO2: 2.7 ml.kg-1.min-1  Heart Rate: 58 beat.min-1  Blood Pressure 144/70
Ventilatory threshold 7.6 ml.kg-1.min-1    Heart Rate 71 beats.min-1  Power Output 20W
VO2peak 11.4 ml.kg-1.min-1    (Peak RER 1.05) Peak Heart Rate 81 beats.min-1  Peak Blood Pressure 174/75mmHg
VE/VCO2 slope: 35.6

7 day physical activity monitoring with GeneActiv accelerometer:
Daily average: 2,100 steps per day, 21.5 hours lying/sitting, 1.8 hours standing
Estimated energy expenditure 21.5 MET hours per day
Exercise: Wants to start cardiac rehabilitation.  Currently does 2 short walks per day but is limited by breathlessness and fatigue

Diet: Usually has cooked breakfast, sausage roll or pasty for lunch and traditional meat, potatoes and 2 veg for evening meal.  Enjoys a beer or two and a game of darts at the pub most evenings, but trying to cut down.

The case study is subject to plagiarism checks before submission.