What is cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation – or cardiac rehab – is a program of education and exercise sessions. If you’ve had a cardiac event such as a heart attack or if you’ve had treatment like a coronary angioplasty, cardiac rehab aims to help you recover and get back to living your life as fully as possible.

What will my first weeks at home be like?

It’s normal to worry or feel anxious when you leave hospital. Make sure you find out what you are allowed to do. Everyone is different so you must get advice which is right for you.

In many hospitals, a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team will come and see you while you are on the ward to give you information about your condition and about the treatment you have had. They can talk to you about your recovery and getting back to your usual activities and about your lifestyle and how you can protect your heart in the future. It’s good to include your partner or a member of your family in these conversations if you can.

Who is in the cardiac rehabilitation team?

The team may include a cardiologist, specialist cardiac nurse, physiotherapist, exercise specialist, occupational therapist, dietitian and psychologist. You may not get to see all of these professionals, but you may see some of them either while you are in hospital or afterwards as an outpatient.

What happens on a cardiac rehabilitation programme?

1. Exercise

Exercise can help your recovery and improve your fitness, strength and general wellbeing.

Before you start your programme, you will have an assessment to find out how much exercise you can safely do.

A nurse, physiotherapist or an exercise specialist can then work out a programme of exercises for you, tailoring the programme to your particular needs. At first, it may seem very tiring, but this is normal and you’ll feel less tired as your strength and confidence return. If your heart disease limits what you can do or if you have another condition that affects your movement – such as arthritis – you may not be able to do the exercise sessions. If you can’t, you can still benefit from the other parts of the cardiac rehab programme.

2. Education

Your cardiac rehab programme may include information or education sessions on particular topics. An example is sessions on the risk factors for coronary heart disease – things like high levels of blood cholesterol. The aim is to help you make healthy lifestyle choices which may help reduce your risk of further heart problems.

3. Relaxation and psychological support

Some cardiac rehab programmes teach you different relaxation techniques so you can find one that suits you. You’ll also find out how important relaxation is in helping to manage stress. Some programmes may offer one-toone counselling or advice to people who need it.

What topics are covered?

• Treatments: Treatments for heart conditions, including surgery, coronary angioplasty and medicines. You will also learn how to manage your condition in the long term.

• Risk factors: The risk factors for coronary heart disease – such as smoking, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure – and what you can do about them to help reduce your risk

• Healthy lifestyles:  Eating a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity helps to keep your heart healthy and can reduce the risk of having further heart problems.

• Practical issues: The practical issues you might need to consider, such as driving, returning to work and going on holiday.

What should I do after the programme?

After you have finished your cardiac rehab programme, it’s vital to carry on with regular exercise and to lead a healthy lifestyle in the long term. Doing this will help protect your heart and reduce your risk of further heart problems.

Disclaimer: This article is only for basic information purpose. Please consult Doctor or CardioHealth recommended specialist for advice on Cardiac rehabilitation programme.

For questions, you can reach out to team@cardiohealth.ai

Source: BHF Cardiac Rehabilitation World Health Organisation