Cardiac Rehabilitation: Should I Consider it?

“Caring for the patient doesn’t end at the hospital”. In recent times, providing rehabilitation to the patient after being discharged has become a crucial component of quality healthcare. Such rehabilitation programs fasten the recovery of patients after major surgery or treatment.

If you or your loved one is recovering from a heart problem, then “cardiac rehabilitation “ can help in optimizing the quality of life and enable quicker recovery.

When thinking about enrolling in a  cardiac rehab program, you may have several questions in your mind.

We have answered some of these below:

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a customized program designed to help patients recovering from a heart attack, or heart failure, or who have undergone procedures like bypass surgery or heart valve replacement.

It focuses on improving both the physical and psychological health of the patient.

Research suggests that patients who receive 36 sessions of a cardiac rehab program have a 47% less chance of death.

A Cardiac Rehab program entails

• Physical activities like stretching,  strengthening exercises, resistance training, and aerobic exercises
• Education about lifestyle changes, healthy diet, and post-operative care
• Counseling sessions and breathing techniques to improve mental health by relieving stress and anxiety.

Your cardiac surgeon may refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program. Usually, the cardiac rehab team is multidisciplinary and consists of various healthcare professionals like a  cardiologist, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical nutritionists, and psychologists.

How will Cardiac Rehabilitation help me?

It is important that you consider the following benefits while thinking about going for cardiac rehabilitation:

• Strengthens your heart in case of a cardiac event
• Relieves the symptoms of heart diseases like chest pain
• Reduces stress
• Increases your strength and energy to make daily activities easier for you to perform.
• Prevents future cardiac issues. Studies indicate that cardiac rehab can reduce the risk of death in the next 5 years by 35% for patients after bypass surgery or heart attack.
• Builds healthier eating and lifestyle habits like quitting smoking and increasing physical activity
• Helps in improving your mental health and reducing the possibility of depression

Am I Eligible for Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation will be recommended to you if you have had a heart attack or heart failure. It is also advised when you have had the following treatments:

• Heart valve replacement or repair
• Angioplasty
• Lung or heart transplant
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Placement of implantable devices like pacemakers

If you are interested in going for cardiac rehab, you should discuss with your heart specialist if he/she can recommend you one.

Where should I get Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Initially, cardiac rehabilitation will be done while you stay at the hospital. However, most patients are advised to continue their rehab at an outpatient facility after they leave the hospital. Besides hospitals, several rehabilitation centers can also offer customized cardiac rehab programs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is an integral part of post-operative care. Thus, MediGence has customized treatment packages for your cardiac problems with postoperative or post-treatment care to enable your faster recovery.

Besides these, it may also be possible to schedule cardiac rehabilitation sessions at your home. You should get in touch with your insurance company to see if they can cover it.

Choosing the Right Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

When looking for the best cardiac rehabilitation program for your needs, you should ensure the following:

• You need your primary doctor’s referral to enter the program.
• Check if the cardiac rehab program will be covered by insurance
• Go through the experience and certifications of the cardiac rehab center.
• Search for the nearest cardiac rehab center near you to ensure that it is convenient for you to go to the rehab center.
• Ask if the center will communicate with your healthcare provider
• Check out the services that the rehab center is offering.
• You can also check if they have counseling and education services for your caregivers as these can benefit your close ones.
• Get information about the risks associated with the exercises that you will be performing
• See if the rehab center can customize the cardiac rehab program based on your needs
• Check if the cardiac rehab center has qualified professionals to perform emergency procedures.

Avail Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Across the World

Conclusion

So, should you consider cardiac rehab? Definitely! Cardiac rehab can benefit you in multiple ways. It can be customized and is easily available in various settings. Thus, prioritize your mental and physical well-being with cardiac rehabilitation.
Talk to your heart specialist and get enrolled!

Reference Links:

• https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/do-i-need-cardiac-rehab
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cardiac-rehabilitation/about/pac-20385192