Cardiac rehabilitation also called cardiac rehab is a supervised program for anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problems that required surgery or medical care.
Your rehab is supported by a team of professionals that may include your healthcare provider, exercise and nutrition specialists, physical and occupational therapists and counselors. Your team will be there to help gradually progress in prescribed training zones.
Who Needs Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Anyone who has had a heart problem, such as a heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery, can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. Studies have shown that it helps people of all ages and with mild, moderate or severe heart problems.
Don’t be concerned that you cannot do the physical activity because of your age or condition. Your team will take that into consideration with developing the best plan for you. Cardiac rehabilitation is especially useful for older adults improving strength and mobility to make daily tasks easier.
Physical Activity
You will participate in activities to strengthen your muscles, and improve your cardiovascular fitness. What you do may vary and will depend on your incoming fitness level and risk factors.
You will likely start with low impact activities that have a lower risk of injury. Activity such as walking, cycling or rowing can improve cardiovascular health. Activities to strengthen your muscles such as lifting free weight or using resistance bands may be added.
Don’t worry if you have never exercised before. Your team will be there to help you progress according to your fitness level and medical history. You will be taught proper technique and the importance of warming up and cooling down. They will also monitor your heart rate and blood pressure to make sure you are safe while exercising.
Education
Your team will provide guidance and support on making healthy lifestyle changes. Information about eating a heart healthy diet and regular exercise will be provided.
Information about quitting tobacco and/or other substances may be offered to help you live a healthier lifestyle.
Guidance about managing conditions such as diabetes, cholesterol levels and blood pressure are an important component of cardiac rehab to help you recover and strengthen your heart.
Counseling/Support
Facing a serious health problem may have you feeling anxious or depressed. Adjusting may take time and you may want to consider counseling as part of your cardiac rehab. Counseling may help you learn ways to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety as you recover.
It is common to feel anxious when concerned about your health, future, having to stop working for a while or limiting activities you have loved. Vocational and occupational therapies can teach you skills to help you return to work or hobbies.
Program Completion
It is important to continue making lifestyle changes after you have completed your rehab. You most like will be leaving the program feeling a lot better, don’t lose everything you gained by falling back into old habits.
You will continue to have heart healthy benefits from regular exercise and watching your diet. Using everything you learned about controlling your cardiovascular risk factors will help you the rest of your life. The goal is to end the program with the tools you need to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Long Term Benefits
One of the most valuable benefits of cardiac rehab is often finding that you feel better than you did before your heart condition. Studies have shown that completing a cardiac rehab program may add increase your life expectancy by up to 5 years.
It may also decrease the chance that you will die in the 5 years following a heart attach or bypass surgery by about 35%.
Cardiac Rehabilitation can improve your quality of life. It can reduce your risk of further heart problems and help you return to an active life.
Talk to your Doctor
Talk to your doctor about cardiac rehabilitation and if it is right for your situation. Many insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare cover it if you have a doctor’s referral.
Dr. Bobish and her team care about your physical and mental health. If you are concerned and looking for help, call 989-448-7002 and schedule an appointment.