Cardiac Rehab - What Is It and Who Needs It?

 

What is cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program to help people with heart problems recover and improve their cardiovascular health. The program typically includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy lifestyle changes, and counseling to help people cope with the psychological impact of heart issues. Cardiac rehab helps your heart muscles get stronger and work better. It can also help progress your heart's rhythm and lower blood pressure.

Who needs cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehab can benefit people of all ages, including those who have had a heart attack, heart surgery, or a heart transplant. It is also beneficial for people with heart failure, angina or a heart rhythm problem.

What are the benefits of cardiac rehab?

Benefits of cardiac rehab include:

·         Improved heart function

·         Increased physical activity tolerance

·         Reduced heart-related symptoms

·         Improved mental health

·         Improved quality of life

How often is cardiac rehab recommended?

The goal of cardiac rehab is to help people regain their strength and energy, learn how to take care of their hearts, and lower their risk of having another heart attack or needing heart surgery. Cardiac rehab usually lasts for 12 weeks. It includes exercise, education, and counseling. It may be done in a hospital, an outpatient setting, or at home.

What are the different phases of the program?

Cardiac rehab programs typically involve three phases:

●     Phase I: This phase usually occurs in the hospital immediately after a heart attack or surgery. The focus is on helping the person recover and preventing further heart problems.

●     Phase II: This phase usually occurs in an outpatient facility. The focus is on helping the person become more physically active.

●     Phase III: This phase is a maintenance phase, where patients continue to exercise on their own at home.

Conclusion

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of recovery for people who have had a heart attack, heart surgery, or other heart-related event or condition. It is a medically supervised program from Warner Hospital in Clinton, IL as part of their Cardiopulmonary Services that helps people with heart problems improve their cardiovascular fitness and overall health. Cardiac rehab is important in heart recovery and can significantly reduce the risk of another cardiac event in the future.