What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a supervised program that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with heart disease or people who have suffered a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack or bypass surgery. Services include medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, lifestyle changes, education, and emotional support. Such programs are designed to help you return to and maintain your best possible physical and emotional condition. People who participate in cardiac rehab can greatly reduce the risk of having a major cardiac event, especially if they have already had a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

What are the benefits?

Heart problems affect millions of people and are the leading cause of death in many countries. Cardiac rehab can help those who have ongoing (chronic) heart problems as well as those who have experienced a heart attack. In addition to benefiting people who have been diagnosed with heart disease, cardiac rehab can help people who are at risk for heart disease. Cardiac rehab programs also offer a range of benefits to people who are not recovering from a specific cardiac event or procedure but who instead want to improve their cardiovascular health and reduce their risk of future cardiac events.

Unfortunately, many people—especially older adults and women—may not be offered the opportunity to try cardiac rehab, or they often do not follow through with the programs. It is important to ask your doctor whether cardiac rehab is right for you and to follow through with a program once you start one. Cardiac rehab can greatly improve your health and quality of life.

What does the program entail?

• A cardiac rehab program includes:
• A careful medical evaluation of your current health.
• A monitored exercise program of aerobic and resistance training exercises.
• Education and programs to reduce your risk factors for heart problems.
• Stress management programs and counseling for depression.
• Nutritional counseling.

You may enter a cardiac rehab program while you are still in the hospital after having a cardiac event (such as a heart attack), very soon after leaving the hospital, or at any other time to help prevent heart problems.

When you first begin a cardiac rehab program, your health will be closely monitored by your health professionals. As you progress, you will move up to an at-home or group phase with less monitoring. By the end of the program, you will be ready to maintain a healthier lifestyle on your own.

Having a heart attack or other heart problems can be frightening. Cardiac rehab can help empower you both physically and mentally. However, the choice of whether to actively participate in the programs offered by cardiac rehab will be yours. The benefits you experience from cardiac rehab will depend on your willingness to participate even when you are no longer being monitored by a health professional.