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Cardiac Rehabilitation
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If you have recently been diagnosed with heart disease, you may feel confused, anxious or even angry. The good news is that you don't have to wage the battle against heart disease alone. You can learn the skills and receive the support you need by joining a multifaceted cardiac rehabilitation program in your community. Your physician can tell you if a referral to a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program would be appropriate for you.
How a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program can help
Cardiac rehabilitation helps heart patients of any age or gender recover, resume normal activities, and reduce the chance of further heart problems. These programs involve medically supervised exercise, diet modification, stress reduction, smoking cessation, medication management, and recognizing signs and symptoms.
Heart patients who can benefit
People who have had angina, heart failure, a heart attack, angioplasty, heart bypass or valve surgery or even a heart transplant will feel better and get stronger. They also learn to improve healthy habits and lower the risk of further heart problems. Patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program reduce their risk of future heart problems and increase their life expectancy. Following a heart attack participation in cardiac rehabilitation reduces mortality by 25-30 percent.
Why surgery and medication aren't enough
Medication and surgical procedures alone do not cure heart disease. Without important lifestyle changes, arteries will become clogged again, leading to further heart damage.
Many believe that after a cardiac procedure or surgery, they are cured. They feel much better because the heart is receiving more oxygen. But heart disease can be chronic and progressive. Eight to 10 years after bypass surgery, blockages tend to return. Changing lifestyle behaviors can really prolong the life of the bypass or the angioplasty -- and the patient. It's never too late to make dietary improvements and to exercise regularly.
Knowing what it's safe to do
Perhaps the greatest hurdle a heart patient faces is fear. Cardiac rehabilitation reduces the anxiety heart patients' feel as they return to or start and exercise program. In a medically supervised program, participants have health care professionals helping them to recognize limits and set goals. They are able to see clear progress, and this boosts confidence. Cardiac rehabilitation also provides a peer support group.
Program Format
Phase I Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase I of Cardiac Rehabilitation begins during hospitalization. A cardiac nurse visits each patient to provide education and nutrition counseling in preparation for discharge. Patients may lso receive physical therapy during the hospital stay.
Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase II is a 4 to 12 week exercise program, with three sessions per week. . Exercise sessions include several components: warm up walking or biking; aerobic exercise on treadmills, exercise bikes, stair-steps, and rowing machines to help the heart use oxygen more efficiently and improve blood flow; resistance training to increase strength and stamina; and cool down stretching for flexibility. Small group sessions provide heart monitoring during exercise, individualized care, and frequent blood pressure checks by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Staff. Patients with cardiovascular disease can safely exercise in Phase II as early as two to six weeks after a heart attack or heart surgery.
Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase III is designed to maintain cardiovascular fitness through prescribed exercise. Candidates or Phase III include individuals who have a prior history of heart disease, those who are at high risk of developing heart disease, and graduates of Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Enrollment
Before an individual begins Phase II or III of Cardiac Rehabilitation, a rehabilitation specialist will meet with the patient to discuss the exercise and education needs of the patient, perform a health assessment, and answer questions. Cardiac Rehabilitation nurses and exercise specialists will then design an individualized exercise program for each patient to assure optimal cardiac health. Prior to starting Cardiac Rehabilitation the following steps are performed; physician referral is obtained, insurance coverage is reviewed, and initial appointment is scheduled.
Physician's RoleDuring Cardiac Rehabilitation
Progress reports are sent regularly to the patient's referring cardiologist and primary care physician. Each patient remains under the care of his or her physician during the course of the program.
For more information call the Cardiac Rehabilitation office:
John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus (925) 947-5254
John Muir Medical Center, Concord Campus (925) 674-2200
John Muir Outpatient Center, Brentwood (925) 308-8140
For general information on Cardiac Rehabilitation or other programs:
California Society for Cardiac Rehabilitation
American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
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