What is cardiac rehabilitation, and who can benefit from it?
Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised exercise and educational program to improve someone’s heart health. Patients are referred to a program after suffering a cardiac event.
What are the main goals of a cardiac rehab program?
The goals of cardiac rehab are to improve your cardiac risk factor profile. Modifiable cardiac risk factors are smoking, elevated cholesterol levels, hypertension, overweight/obesity, diabetes, stress/anxiety, and sedentary lifestyle. Risk factors of family history, postmenopausal, and someone’s race are non-modifiable risk factors.
Throughout the program, each patient’s cardiac risk profile is evaluated and specific education related to their risk profile is discussed and education is provided.
What are some key habits to maintain heart health?
I tell my patients that they are driving the car when it comes to heart health. If they adhere to doing all they can to remain feeling well, they will keep the car out of the garage. Yes, they will have the need for an occasional checkup, but it’s been studied that those who maintain healthy habits are less likely to land back in the hospital.
Exercise is probably one of the most important habits to maintain.
What are the biggest challenges people face when making heart-healthy lifestyle changes?
Finding the time to change your healthy habits. We all have used the “I don’t have time to exercise” excuse. Another challenge patients face is staying motivated or committing to these changes long-term.
What are common misconceptions about cardiac rehab?
I would say the most common misconception is that cardiac rehab is only for fit patients and that if someone hasn’t been physically active prior to their event, they shouldn’t commit.
Another common misconception is that patients only need to commit to the exercise program during the rehab program (6 to 12 weeks). This myth could not be further from the truth. The patient learns that an active lifestyle, including regular aerobic type exercise, is a lifestyle change, which they need to continue long after their 6-to-12-week program.
Other misconceptions are that cardiac rehab is for younger patients. I’ve had patients as young as 38 years old but also up to 89 years of age. Age is never an excuse.
What led you to work in cardiac rehab?
My work in cardiac rehab started in college. My undergraduate degree was in exercise science. My senior year, I had a semester-long internship in cardiac rehab. During that internship, I gained knowledge of what cardiac rehab was and as a clinician I could help these very special patients. Flash forward 18 years later, I pursued a nursing degree and had thought I’d had enough of cardiac disease, so I worked in other areas of nursing. Then, a job in cardiac rehab became available and it was a full circle of now doing what I truly love.
Patients are fragile after their cardiac events. I feel fortunate that I am there assisting in their lifestyle changes and I get to know them over the weeks in the program. I love our cardiac patients!
MAHHC’s Rehabilitation Center offers both inpatient and outpatient programs. These rehabilitation and physical medicine programs are the top choice for patients requiring ongoing or intensive services, treating a wide range of conditions including stroke, cardiopulmonary disease and recovery from significant illnesses or injuries.
As a CARF-accredited facility, MAHHC’s Rehabilitation Center adheres to the highest standards in care, ensuring comprehensive and effective treatment for patients in need of rehabilitation services.