Cardiac Rehab Can Help Heal Your Heart

 Cardiac rehab cannot change your previous cardiac challenges or issues, but it can help you improve your heart’s future.

What is cardiac rehab? “Cardiac rehabilitation is a physician-supervised, multidisciplinary program that focuses on all aspects of the patient’s recovery,” said Lisa Warren, Director of Iredell Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehab has been offered at Iredell Health System for over 40 years. It helps patients who have had a heart problem or heart surgery get back to their day-to-day activities and improve their heart health. Iredell’s cardiac rehab program includes heart-healthy exercise, education, nutrition consultation, stress management, and mental health support.

“We aid the patient in not only improving their physical health but also their emotional health. The ultimate goal is to give the participant tools that lead to optimal health,” said Warren.

Upon enrollment in Iredell’s cardiac rehab program, the participant will go through a nursing assessment, modified exercise test, dietary assessment, and an assessment that identifies anxiety and depression. This helps the cardiac rehab team develop an individualized treatment plan that includes aspects from each evaluation.

“No two patients are treated the same. Each person’s treatment plan is based on not only the results of the evaluation, but on the patient’s goals and what they would like to accomplish during program participation,” said Warren.

You may be a candidate for cardiac rehab if you have been diagnosed with heart attack, congestive heart failure, or stable angina. You may also be a candidate if you’ve had a heart procedure, such as angioplasty or coronary stent placement, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplant, or valve replacement or repair.

Cardiac rehab is loaded with both long and short-term benefits that can help you take charge of and improve your heart health. Below, Warren lists five notable benefits to participating in a cardiac rehab program.

1. Increases endurance and strength “Most individuals do not exercise on a regular basis, and once there is a heart event, the person is much weaker than they realize. Regular exercise or movement at even the smallest degree improves endurance,” said Warren. Supervised exercise in cardiac rehab can help you safely rebuild muscle and stamina. When done regularly, exercise improves your heart’s ability to pump blood to your lungs and throughout your body. As a result, more blood flows to your muscles, and oxygen levels in your blood rise.

2. Improves activities of daily living “Once endurance has improved, the person can typically return to normal activities. We find many people are feeling better than they have in years,” said Warren. Cardiac rehabilitation can reduce physical limitations and increase your energy, which can make daily activities like carrying groceries or climbing stairs easier.

3. Provides education “Cardiac rehab provides education on most all aspects related to heart disease and recovery. We believe knowledge is power, and with this knowledge, participants have tools to live a healthier life and prevent recurrent events,” said Warren. In Iredell’s cardiac rehab program, you will learn more about anatomy and physiology, nutrition, emotional health and stress management, medications, and tips for living with heart disease.

4. Helps prevent future illness and death from heart disease Regular physical activity and a healthy diet are associated with improved longevity. Studies show that people who commit to cardiac rehab reduce their risk of having future heart problems. “Cardiac rehab reduces all-cause mortality by approximately 26% and readmission rates by 18%. It also reduces the risk of mortality from another event by 57%,” said Warren.

5. Connecting with others “Another benefit from cardiac rehab is being able to meet and connect with other people who have gone through similar experiences,” said Warren. Being surrounded by others who understand the challenges of recovering from heart-related issues creates a supportive community where participants can share successes, setbacks, and encouragement. The bonds formed during cardiac rehab can provide a sense of belonging and motivation that can be instrumental in maintaining long-term lifestyle changes.

Learn More: To participate in Iredell’s cardiac rehabilitation program, you will need a physician referral. Iredell Health System offers an 18-week (36 sessions) cardiac rehab program, as well as a maintenance program for those who have completed rehab. Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurances provide reimbursement for cardiac rehab. “We find that even the folks who are hesitant really enjoy the program once they begin,” said Warren.