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If you are someone who has experienced a heart-related event, cardiac rehabilitation is the best holistic solution to regain strength, improve heart health, and enhance overall quality of life.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

It is a personalized program that includes education and exercise, designed and supervised to improve the health of anyone with a heart disease. Experts usually recommend cardiac rehabilitation after heart attack or heart surgery. It involves educating you about a heart-healthy lifestyle along with  exercise training and emotional support. Cardiac rehabilitation can effectively reduce future heart issues. A cardiac rehab is usually recommended if your medical history includes:

• Angioplasty and stenting
• Cardiomyopathy
• Certain congenital heart diseases
• Chest pain (stable angina)
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart or lung transplant
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Peripheral artery disease

If you have experienced any of the above conditions, consult an expert at the best cardiac hospital where a team will work together to set goals for your cardiac rehab program.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Phases

Cardiac rehabilitation goes through three main phases.

• The inpatient phase that starts while you’re in the hospital
• The outpatient phase which includes going to appointments and then going home afterward
• The final phase which you have to do on your own  and includes keeping up exercises on your own and at your own expense

The first stage usually lasts about three months, although it may take longer for some people. During cardiac rehabilitation, you’ll work with a team of healthcare providers that include Cardiologists, Nurses, Nutritionists, Exercise trainers, Mental health providers, as well as Physical and occupational therapists. Also, Read: Cardiovascular Disease: Types, Symptoms And Treatment

Let us look into what cardiac rehabilitation actually includes:

Medical Checkup

A team of healthcare experts will first examine you. They will check your physical abilities and medical limitations. They will try to determine your risk for heart complications, particularly during exercise. This helps them curate a cardiac rehabilitation program that’s safe and effective for you. Your doctor might suggest frequent checkups to help your team keep track of your progress.

Exercise

Cardiac rehabilitation exercises are prescribed to improve heart health. You will first be asked to begin with low impact activities that have a lower risk of injury. They include walking, cycling, rowing and jogging. Sometimes programs even include yoga. Your team will teach you proper techniques and probably suggest you to  exercise at least three times a week.

Lifestyle Education

Along with the treatment and exercise regime, your team will also go through suggestions for healthy lifestyle changes which include eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking. They might also suggest you get 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily.

Support

Apart from all the treatment and training, cardiac rehabilitation also involves complete support for your mental health. This may be because heart conditions take time to heal and patients may be at a risk of developing depression or anxiety. A cardiac rehabilitation team usually includes professionals that can equip you with the tools necessary for you to manage mental health issues.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Benefits

Cardiac rehabilitation improves the health of those who have a heart condition or a history of heart surgery. They help you:

• Get stronger
• Reduce the risk of future heart problems
• Prevent the heart condition from worsening
• Improve quality of life

Risks

Cardiac rehabilitation treatments are not right for everyone with heart disease. Which is why a healthcare team examines you and reviews your medical history to make sure that rehabilitation is the best way forward. 

Results

Cardiac rehabilitation can help you rebuild your life slowly, both physically and emotionally. 

Over time, it can help you:

• Decrease the risk of  heart conditions
• Improve strength
• Learn ways to manage stress and anxiety
• Manage weight
• Quit bad habits, such as smoking

The biggest reason why a lot of people go through cardiac rehabilitation is to have improved quality of life. There have been cases where people who continue with cardiac rehab end up feeling better than they did before they had heart surgery or a heart condition. Consult the best cardiac hospital near you if you have experienced any heart conditions and think you need professional care.