Insights
the blog of Porter Hills
Cardiac Rehab Week
Watch the WZZM13 Senior Wellness Segment on this topic.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and February is heart health month. As Helen Keller said,
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” Take care of your heart.
What is Cardiac Rehab?
A medically supervised program to help you increase your heart health. It is a team approach consisting most often of physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, dieticians, and physical therapists.
Who qualifies for cardiac rehab?
Those who have experienced a cardiac event (heart attack, stent or valve placement, pacemaker or defibrillator) or diagnosis of heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina or other heart event.
Traditionally cardiac rehab programs focus on these three things…
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A Guided EXERCISE Program
Provides counseling and training while specialists observe your heart and how it functions.
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Heart Healthy EDUCATION
Teaches you about your disease process or diagnosis, provides information on your medications, gives you access to a dietician to assist with meal planning, and more.
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Help you to EXPERIENCE less stress
High levels of stress can increase blood pressure and have extremely negative impacts on heart health. Cardiac rehab programs help you to identify and delete daily sources of stress in your life and assist you in behavior changes.
Overall the main goal of cardiac rehab is to help you:
- decrease the risk of a future cardiac event
- eat healthier
- lose weight
- get back to work
- participate in daily activities
In West Michigan all major hospital systems have cardiac rehab programs and many are covered in full by Medicare, contact your insurance company to see what your coverage is, then contact your physician for a referral. Ask your physician about a cardiac rehab program in your area.
Porter Hills Home Care offers Heartbeats Cardiac Program. This program is specialized education for cardiac diagnoses and medications. This program is intended for individuals with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart attack or heart surgery.
