Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is a crucial program for anyone suffering from heart disease or at risk of developing heart conditions. By focusing on exercise, nutrition, and education, it not only enhances physical health but also fosters a better quality of life. Taking proactive steps toward cardiac rehabilitation can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being, helping you live a longer and healthier life. Prioritizing your heart health today will pay dividends for you and your loved ones in the future.
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
- An individualized and personalized treatment plan, including evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and other health-related areas.
- An important part of the treatment of your specific heart problem. If you have one of the following diagnoses you may be eligible to participate:
- Heart Attack
- Angina
- Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
- Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
- Heart failure
- Heart transplantation
- Generally covered by most health insurance companies but check your plan to determine co-pays or other requirements. Contact your local Cardiac Rehabilitation facility to inquire what programs are available for patients who do not have insurance
Recent scientific studies have shown that people who complete a cardiac rehabilitation program can increase their life expectancy by up to five years.
Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation:
- Live longer and lessen your chances for another heart attack
- Control heart disease symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath
- Stop or reverse damage to your blood vessels in your heart
- Lessen the physical and emotional effects of heart disease
- Improve your stamina and strength, getting you back to your usual activities, including work, hobbies, and regular exercise
- Improve your confidence and well-being
Phases in Cardiac Rehab:
Phase II: Early Outpatient
Phase II of the Cardiac Rehab Program offers a continuation of the education and exercise that should have been initiated in Phase I (when the patient was hospitalized). Phase II usually begins one to two weeks after the patient leaves the hospital. The length of the Phase II program is determined on an individual basis. The usual and recommended attendance for the Phase II program is two to three times weekly for up to 36 visits.
Most insurance cover some, if not all, of the Phase II costs. Patients should contact their insurance companies to determine coverage.
Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Offers:
- Assessment of your personal risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease
- Education and support to make healthy lifestyle changes such as
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Heart healthy eating
- Avoiding tobacco and environmental smoke
- Beginning and maintaining a personalized exercise plan that works for you
- Monitoring and better control of:
- Blood pressure
- Lipids /cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Psychological/stress assessment and counseling
- Opportunity to meet and share stories with other patients like you
- Improved communication with your doctor and other healthcare providers about your progress following your cardiac event
Phase III: Supervised Outpatient
Phase 3 cardiac rehab focuses on exercise that is unmonitored (performed without a heart monitor). It is for patients who have completed the Phase II program and still desire supervision of medical staff during exercise and for those that have a qualifying medical condition that may lead to heart disease such as obesity.
The goal of Phase III is to promote long-term lifestyle changes and adhere to an appropriate exercise regimen. Patients are independent in this phase. They monitor their own heart rate and workloads and are supervised by the cardiac rehab coordinator, who is also there to answer and questions and/or concerns.
The staff monitors weekly blood pressures, heart rates while exercising and provides a bi-annual progress report that updates medications, lab work, and workloads. A physician referral is needed to enter the program; however, it is not necessary if a patient recently graduated from the Phase II monitored program.