Did you know that if you have had a heart attack or any other heart problem, a certain therapy called cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) is an important part of your recovery?

What is Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac Rehab is a medically supervised program for people who have had a heart attack or other heart problem that needed surgery or medical care. It’s designed to help improve your cardiovascular health and your quality of life. Components of a good cardiac rehab program include exercises, emotional support, lifestyle changes and counseling to reduce the stress.

It’s important to know that you may start a cardiac rehab program while still in the hospital. The cardiac rehab team includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists and your family. Before starting the recovery, the team will check your medical history and do a physical exam. You also may have a test to measure your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. [2]

How long does it usually last?

During the recovery therapy, you will learn how to increase your physical activity safely. The length of the time depends on your medical condition and your progress.

Cardiac rehabilitation will prevent future heart problems. Many studies have found that this recovery program decrease the chances of second heart attack or even death by around 20- 30 %. [1]

If you have patients who’ve just had a heart attack or another cardiac condition, letting them know about cardiac rehab can yield a lot of benefits.

Resources:

[1] Benjamin EJ, Blaha MJ, Chive SE, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2017 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135:e146-e603. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000485.

[2] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/rehab