It makes it possible to detect cardiac alteration very early.
Taking care of your heart is essential because it is the engine of the body. However, heart failure – when the heart is struggling to pump enough blood – can sometimes settle down and evolve silently, without obvious symptoms at the start. This is why doctors, especially cardiologists, need reliable tools and objectives to detect a degradation of heart function early, well before severe consequences.
Historically, cardiologists use the Nyha (New York Heart Association) classification of 1928 to determine whether a heart is fine or bad, but it has the disadvantage of resting on the subjective interpretation of the symptoms reported by the patient, which lacks reliability and relevance. In a study to be published in November 2025 in The American Journal of CardiologyCanadian cardiologists have validated a more concrete and more objective method, making it possible to detect an alteration of the heart. They call it the “6 -minute walking test” (or TM6): it is a physical test where the patient is asked to travel as long as possible in 6 minutes on a flat walking carpet.
If the patient manages to walk a great distance, it’s a good sign: it shows that his heart works well. On the other hand, if it can only travel a short distance, it is an alarm signal: his heart is struggling. The study does not give precise distance thresholds to define the state of the heart. However, there are benchmarks based on other research work: a distance less than 300 meters is a threshold commonly cited in cardiology. This may indicate that heart failure is serious and that the patient’s ability to operate is highly limited. A distance greater than 420 meters, on the other hand, translates a good functional capacity.
Thanks to this test, 45 % of study participants were considered more sick than cardiologists thought at the outset. Their management was able to quickly be adjusted and their reduced heart risk. Beyond the tests, a few golden rules make it possible to prevent heart problems: a balanced diet (rich in fruits and vegetables, low in saturated fat and salt), regular physical activity (fast walking, swimming) and, of course, limit risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes …).
