How Important Is Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation does not change your heart's past, but it can help you improve your future.

Research has found that participating in cardiac rehabilitation decreases the chance you will die in the five years following a heart attack or bypass surgery by about 35%.

Yet nationally, only 20 to 25% of heart patients follow their doctor's recommendation to take advantage of cardiac rehab, says Tim Maynard, manager of Franciscan Health's cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program in Lafayette.

"Cardiac rehab is the fountain of youth, but people have to come to get their 'drink,'" Maynard said.

Whether you have experienced heart failure, heart attack, angioplasty or heart surgery, participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program can help you improve your cardiovascular health.

Key Takeaways: Cardiac Rehab

• Cardiac rehab significantly improves survival and long-term health. Participating in cardiac rehabilitation can reduce the risk of death within five years after a heart attack or bypass surgery by about 35%. Going to cardiac rehab is one of the most effective steps patients can take after a cardiac event.
• Most eligible patients don’t take advantage of it—despite strong benefits. Nationally, only 20–25% of heart patients attend cardiac rehab, even though it is strongly recommended and shown to improve outcomes by helping patients adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle changes.
• Cardiac rehab is more than exercise. Programs combine supervised exercise, education, medication management, nutrition guidance, stress reduction, and mental health support, all led by a specialized healthcare team to prevent future heart problems.
• Nearly anyone recovering from a heart condition can benefit from cardiac rehab. Patients who’ve experienced a heart attack, heart failure, stent placement, bypass or valve surgery, or angina can improve strength, confidence, quality of life and ability to return to normal daily activities through cardiac rehab.

What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to designed to strengthen the heart and body after a heart problem requiring surgery or other medical care. It combines exercise and education about healthy living to help prevent a heart problem from occurring again.

Supervised cardiac rehabilitation includes physical activity and education about healthy eating, how to take medication as prescribed and how to quit smoking. It also includes counseling to find ways to relieve stress and improve mental health. This may be done by a team of people, including health care workers, exercise and nutrition specialists, physical therapists and counselors.

"We're rich in teaching resources - an exercise physiologist, a behavioral specialist for stress management, a dietician, a physician or pharmacist for medication management," Maynard said. "The brilliant work of our cardiologists can be undone in a matter of months at home if the patient does not change unhealthy habits. We don't want that to happen."

How Does Cardiac Rehab Work?

Cardiac rehab works by strengthening the heart and body after a heart attack. It can relieve symptoms of heart problems, such as chest pain.

“The best way to think about cardiac rehab is it's supervised exercise,” said Asand Torabi, MD, cardiologist with Franciscan Health Crown Point. “You're there with trained healthcare professionals that are going to walk you through specialized workouts for the heart and you're going to be monitored. They'll be checking your blood pressure and your heart rate. And it's really a wonderful thing to do.”

Cardiac rehab programs can be done in a hospital or rehabilitation center. Some programs can be done at home. Rehab may start while you are still in the hospital or right after discharge.

What Is Cardiac Rehab Like?

Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised, three-phase program that is based on your needs:  

• Phase I: Starts during recovery in the hospital after a heart attack or another heart issue.
• Phase II: A 10-12-week outpatient program, with a physician referral.
• Phase III: Exercise and support to maintain improvements and strength. No physician's referral needed. Available in select locations.

How Long Can A Person Be In Cardiac Rehab?

Often, cardiac rehab programs are designed for sessions three times a week for a three-month period, though they can be extended longer. A cardiac rehab program can range anywhere from two to eight months.

What Are Benefits Of Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehab can help increase exercise capacity, strength and quality of life for patients who have had heart surgery.

Participating in cardiac rehab can help reduce stress, improve mood and lessen or prevent depression symptoms. It can increase energy and strength to make daily activities like carrying groceries and climbing stairs easier. It can also help a person stay on track with prescribed medications.

Is Cardiac Rehab For You?

Anyone who has had a heart problem, such as a heart attack, heart failure or heart surgery, can benefit from cardiac rehab.

If you've been diagnosed with or experienced any of the conditions below, talk with your doctor about how cardiac rehab can improve your health.

• Chest pain or angina
• Stent placement
• Heart attack
• Bypass surgery
• Valve replacement
• Heart failure

Dr. Torabi encourages people with these heart conditions to discuss the benefits of cardiac rehab for their long-term health.

“When they get through these training sessions with the physical rehab team, they tend to gain some confidence, and it's sort of a mental barrier that they're able to get past,” he said. “We want them just to go out there and just live a normal, healthy life.”