Saint Joseph's cardiac rehabilitation program
To assist in recovery, Saint Joseph's Hospital has developed a cardiac rehabilitation program that is nationally certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation. While there is no known "cure" for heart disease, behavior modification has been proven to help reduce risk factors.
Cardiac rehabilitation services are designed to help patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. Cardiac rehabilitation includes exercise, education, counseling and learning ways to improve health. Together with medical and surgical treatments, cardiac rehabilitation can lead to a better, more fulfilling lifestyle.
You can benefit from cardiac rehab if you:
- have heart disease, such as angina or heart failure, or have had a heart attack.
- have had a coronary bypass surgery or a balloon catheter (PTCA) procedure.
- have had a heart transplant.
Almost everyone with heart disease can benefit from some type of cardiac rehab. No one is too old or too young. Recovery from problems arising from heart disease requires time and patience, as well as understanding from family and friends. Recovery also requires the willingness to change lifestyle areas that may have contributed to heart problems.
The Cardiac rehabilitation team
The rehabilitation team includes the patient, their personal physician, master's level exercise specialists, registered nurses specially trained in cardiac rehabilitation and certified in both basic and advanced life support techniques, and dieticians, occupational and physical therapists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health-care professionals. However, the most important member of your cardiac rehab team is you. No one else can make you exercise, quit smoking or follow a healthier diet.
When you have heart disease, breaking old habits and learning new ones can be stressful. Wondering about your future health can be stressful too. But the support of family and friends, as well as health-care providers (and the camaraderie of peers), can make a big difference in how well you adjust to these changes.
For more information about Saint Joseph's cardiac rehabilitation program call 404-851-7633.
