Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a type of medical care that uses exercise and education to help people recover from heart-related illnesses. Rehab services are those involving medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, cardiac risk factor modification, education, and counseling. It is designed to limit the adverse physiological and psychological effects of cardiac illness, reduce the risk of sudden death or reinfarction, control cardiac symptoms, stabilize or reverse the atherosclerotic process, and enhance patient's psychosocial and vocational status.

Who is Eligible for Cardiac Rehab?
Anyone who has had a diagnosis of documented acute myocardial infarction within the preceding 12 months, or have had coronary bypass surgery, stable angina pectoris (chest pain) or have had valve repair or replacement, have had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting, or have had heart or heart/lung transplantation.

In most cases individuals who have a high risk of developing coronary artery disease can benefit from exercise and an educational program.

How Can Rehab Help Me?

Research has shown that outpatient cardiac rehab increases physical work capacity, oxygen utilization, and stamina. This helps the patient live life more fully. Each patient is given an individualized exercise prescription and the needed education, counseling, and behavioral interventions to help him or her recover fully. Recent studies have shown that intensive rehabilitation can actually decrease the progression of coronary therosclerosis and lower the risk of another coronary incident.

Is Rehab Safe?

According to a government publication reviewing 142 cardiac rehabilitation programs, the incidence of a cardiac event during rehab is very slight. In fact, the rehab setting is safer than other exercise programs because heart and blood pressure monitors are used.

What Do I Need to Get Started?

• A written prescription from your doctor
• Medical records, including recent history and physical, blood analyses, resting ECG or exercise tolerance test, thallium test results, or echocardiogram results.
• List of all medications

What are the Costs?

Costs vary with the services performed. Most insurance companies recognize the benefits of rehab and pay for these services.

Hours:
Cardiopulmonary rehab is conducted MWF from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Special hours can be arranged.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation Offered at Total Health

Phase II - Post Hospitalization
Focuses on individual exercise prescriptions. While the emphasis is on aerobic activity, it also includes muscle strengthening and flexibility. The need for monitoring is decided on an individual basis. Education and training focuses on improving coronary risk factors.

Phase III - Non-Monitored Phase
Risk factor and education programs are available. Treatment plans are guided by patient goals, needs, and capabilities. Patients discover their strengths and deficiencies while continuing their lifestyles for optimal health.

Phase IV - Maintenance
Patients fully resume their normal activities of work and leisure. Because of improved lifestyle, many patients feel better and may have greater physical capacities than before their cardiac event. Many patients choose to continue their exercise program.