A heart attack or a diagnosis of heart disease means you need to make changes to your lifestyle. Cardiac rehabilitation may be one of the things your doctor recommends.
At University Health, we offer a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program that gives you the tools you need to improve your health and get back to living life.
What to expect from cardiac rehab
Reviewed 9/7/2022
7 FACTS & MYTHS ABOUT CARDIAC REHABILITATION
Cardiac rehabilitation is a good idea for almost anyone who's had a heart event, surgery or procedure. Cardiac rehab teaches you how to avoid further heart problems.
Cardiac rehab has proven health benefits. Unfortunately, many people who are eligible for the program don't take part.
Read up on some of the myths and facts about cardiac rehab below. If you think you or a family member might benefit, ask your doctor about the program.
FACT: You need a referral from your doctor for cardiac rehab.
You may benefit from a referral to cardiac rehab if you’ve experienced one or more of the following:
- Heart attack.
- Heart condition such as coronary artery disease, angina or heart failure.
- Heart procedure or surgery such as angioplasty, valve replacement or bypass surgery.
If your doctor hasn’t brought up cardiac rehab, ask about it at your next visit.
MYTH: Health insurance doesn’t usually cover cardiac rehab.
Medicare and most other insurance providers pay for cardiac rehab for people who are eligible for it. If you're a candidate for rehab, talk to your medical team and your insurance provider to find out if it's covered.
FACT: Regular exercise is an important part of cardiac rehab.
A cardiac rehab specialist will design a physical activity program tailored to your abilities. You will be closely monitored throughout to make sure your heart is handling the load.
Other vital parts of cardiac rehab include:
- Heart-healthy eating.
- Stress reduction.
- Quitting smoking.
- Drug therapy.
MYTH: You can be too old to benefit from cardiac rehab.
Cardiac rehab is about more than living longer. It’s about living a high-quality life right now. Ask your doctor how cardiac rehab can be customized to your age and abilities.
FACT: The main goal of cardiac rehab is to help keep you from developing or dying from heart problems.
Cardiac rehab can:
- Lower the risk for a second heart attack or surgery.
- Reduce your overall risk of dying or having a future cardiac event.
- Help you manage risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Help you lose weight.
- Lessen chest pain.
MYTH: Cardiac rehab is only about improving physical health.
In addition to helping your body, cardiac rehab will also help you address the emotional aspects of having a heart problem or recovering after surgery. Your rehab team may include specialists like mental health professionals or social workers who focus specifically on this.
MYTH: Cardiac rehab is something you’ll do for the rest of your life.
Though the exact program will vary according to your needs, cardiac rehab usually lasts around three months, with sessions occurring several times a week.
Learn more about your heart
Visit our Heart Health topic center to learn more about taking care of your heart.
Sources
- American College of Cardiology. "Cardiac Rehabilitation." (graphic) https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/cardiac-rehabilitation/assets/infographic/cardiac-rehabilitation.
- American College of Cardiology. "Cardiac Rehabilitation." https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/cardiac-rehabilitation.
- American Heart Association. "Am I Eligible for Cardiac Rehab?" https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/am-i-eligible-for-cardiac-rehab.
- American Heart Association. "Cardiac Rehab: Frequently Asked Questions." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/cardiac-rehab-faq.
- American Heart Association. "Just 1 in 4 Medicare Recipients Participate in Cardiac Rehab." https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/01/14/just-1-in-4-medicare-recipients-participate-in-cardiac-rehab.
Your doctor will refer you to cardiac rehabilitation, where you'll work with an expert team of specialists on all aspects of recovery. If you're an inpatient, cardiac rehabilitation may begin while you're in the hospital.
Most patients attend rehabilitation for 36 sessions, or about three times a week for three months. You'll be given a prescription for exercise individually tailored for your condition and abilities. Specially trained nurses will monitor your safety and progress while you work toward your exercise goals.
Recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or a diagnosis of congestive heart failure requires that you adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. Our team will help you:
- Understand your condition.
- Learn about healthy eating.
- Learn how to exercise properly and safely. Once you "graduate" from cardiac rehabilitation, you'll have the option of coming back in regularly for an unmonitored exercise program to keep you physically fit and healthy.
- Manage your heart medications.
- Learn how to manage your risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, inactivity and smoking.
The benefits of our outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program extend into other areas of your life. For example, it's common to experience symptoms of depression after a heart event. Our rehabilitation program will connect you to mental health services that can help. If you need financial assistance, help with transportation to and from medical appointments, or other services, cardiac rehabilitation staff will refer you to community resources.
Learn more
Cardiac rehabilitation is provided at University Health Truman Medical Center with a referral from your doctor. For more information, call 816.404.1225.