Cardiac rehabilitation

Our personalized treatment plans combine education and physical exercise to help you recover from your specific cardiovascular event, improve your fitness level, reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease and make the lifestyle changes needed to prevent future events.

Most rehabilitation program participants have had some type of heart problem or procedure, such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Angioplasty or coronary stent placement
• Chest pain
• Heart attack
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Balloon catheter
• Coronary bypass artery graft (CABG)
• Heart transplant (before and after surgery)
• Heart valve surgery

We also welcome cardiac rehab graduates and anyone looking for a sound exercise program.

Our cardiac rehab classes draw on the expertise of qualified registered nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians and exercise physiologists.

During your sessions of monitored physical activity, you will gradually increase the efficiency of your heart and lungs, strengthen your body's muscles and gain the confidence you need to return to daily life. You will also:

• Learn how to control and decrease risk factors of coronary heart disease
• Improve your blood pressure management skills
• Experience safe exercise habits
• Return to or exceed previous levels of recreational activity
• Increase your stamina
• Improve your blood cholesterol levels
• Learn how to keep your body weight down
• Keep your body flexible
• Decrease the need for heart medications
• Lower the risk of a recurring heart problem
• Reduce the risk of developing heart disease

Customized cardiac rehab treatment includes evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management and other health-related areas. Physical exercise sessions are generally divided into three phases:

Started during your hospitalization, this phase educates you and your family on the transition from the hospital to home, including activity and emotional support. A team member may begin a program of progressive exercises designed to regain your strength so you are strong enough to leave the hospital and begin phase two.

Once you are out of the hospital, you will continue to work on getting stronger by following instructions given to you by the cardiac rehabilitation staff and your doctor. This phase involves attending a supervised exercise program on an outpatient basis three times per week and will last approximately two to three months. Weekly educational sessions are also an integral part of phase two.

In this phase, the staff and your doctor have determined that you can safely perform exercises and understand risk factor modification techniques. It is vital to your physical well-being that you commit to a lifelong exercise plan and eat a heart-healthy diet.

As time goes by, your tolerance for activity should increase. We encourage you to keep in mind it is acceptable for you to leave events when you get tired.