Comfortable Cardiac Rehabilitation Guide

Understanding Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive, medically supervised program designed to improve the quality of life for individuals with heart conditions and help them transition back to daily activities more easily. The program focuses on reducing the physical and psychological challenges caused by heart disease, supporting patients in leading healthier, more active lives.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive treatment program designed to support the physical, psychological, and social recovery of individuals who have experienced heart disease or undergone heart surgery. It includes regular exercise, healthy eating, smoking cessation, stress management, and medication management. Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to protect heart health, improve quality of life, and prevent future heart problems.

This program, especially recommended after heart attacks, heart surgeries, or heart failure, is carried out by a multidisciplinary team (cardiologist, physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist). It helps patients regain physical capacity, strengthen psychologically, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Who Can Benefit from Cardiac Rehabilitation?

• Patients who have experienced a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve surgery, or heart transplantation.
• Patients who have undergone angioplasty or had a stent placed
• Individuals diagnosed with heart failure
• Patients with angina (a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart)
• Individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease
• Patients who have received treatment for valve disease
• Individuals who have received a heart transplant

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

The program is tailored to each patient's individual needs and typically includes:

• Exercise Training: Includes aerobic exercises (such as treadmill walking, cycling, or swimming), resistance exercises (using weights or resistance bands), and flexibility exercises (like stretching).
• Education & Counseling: Provides comprehensive information on heart disease, proper medication usage, balanced nutrition, effective stress management techniques, and guidance for smoking cessation.
• Psychological Support: Offers individual and group therapy, as well as emotional support for both patients and their families.
• Risk Factor Management: Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation

1. Acute Phase (In-Hospital Rehabilitation)
   • Starts in the hospital
   • Focuses on stabilizing the patient and preventing complications.
   • Includes gentle physical activities, guided breathing techniques, and foundational education.
2. Subacute Phase (Outpatient Rehabilitation)
   • Begins after hospital discharge and typically lasts for several weeks.
   • Gradual progression of physical activity
   • Individually tailored exercise routines, nutritional guidance, and ongoing psychological support.
3. Chronic Phase (Extended Outpatient Rehabilitation)
   • Begins after phase two and may last for several months or longer.
   • More intensive exercise, advanced educational sessions, and enhanced psychological support.
4. Maintenance Phase (Lifelong Rehabilitation)
   • Begins after phase three and continues for life.
   • Ongoing guidance and support for exercise, healthy nutrition, and effective risk management.

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Improves heart health and overall cardiac function
• Enhances physical endurance and increases the ability to perform daily activities.
• Enhances overall quality of life by improving physical, emotional, and social well-being.
• Lowers the risk of future heart disease.
• Provides psychological support by reducing anxiety and depression.
• Facilitates a quicker return to work and social life.

Impact on Chronic Disease Management

Quality of Life:
• Enhances physical function, promotes independence, and supports psychological well-being.
• Helps alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Promotes active social participation and helps prevent feelings of isolation.

Disease Management:
• Manages key risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes effectively.
• Supports proper and consistent medication adherence
• Encourages long-term adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.
• Empowers patients to actively manage and take responsibility for their own health.

Physical Therapy for the Heart

Part of cardiac rehabilitation, focusing on strengthening the heart muscle, improving cardiovascular endurance, and enhancing physical capacity. Tailored by expert physiotherapists.

Goals:
• Strengthen the heart muscle
• Enhance cardiovascular endurance
• Improve functional capacity
• Enhance exercise tolerance
• Control risk factors
• Improve quality of life

* The Liv Hospital Editorial Board has contributed to the publication of this content.

* The contents of this page are for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. This page does not contain information about medical care provided at Liv Hospital.

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