Overview
The purpose of this study is to understand if breathing muscle training combined with cardiac rehabilitation influences the blood flow and blood pressure response during exercise.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria - Heart Failure Group:
- Adult 18 years and older.
- English speaking.
- Has a qualifying heart failure indication for center-based cardiac rehabilitation.
Inclusion Criteria - Healthy Control Group:
- Adult 18 years and older.
- English speaking.
- Absence of pulmonary, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurologic, or orthopedic diseases. Controls will be matched for age and sex.
Exclusion Criteria:
- HF patients who are unable to engage in a regularly structured exercise training program as part of a clinically indicated center-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.
- Participants unable/unwilling to provide informed consent.
- Uremia, history of allergy to iodides. Impaired renal function.
- Creatinine value greater than 1.3 mg/dL (via clinical record within the past 6 months).
- Diagnosis of liver disease.