By: Chelsea Eckel

*Future Cardiac Rehab Patients

• I’m too young to worry about heart disease.

• I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there are warning signs.

• I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.

•Diabetes won’t threaten my heart as long as I take my medication.

•Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.

• I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked until I’m middle-aged.

•Heart failure means the heart stops beating.

•This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my heart.

•My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack.

• I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack.

*What is Cardiac

Rehabilitation?

•A professionally developed program to help people recover from:

•Heart attacks

•Heart surgery

•Stenting

•Angioplasty

•Provides education and counseling services which:

• Increase physical fitness

•Reduce cardiac symptoms

• Improve health

•Reduce future heart problems

*Why are you here?

You have or had a certain heart condition!

You want to change

your lifestyle!

You had a

heart

procedure

or

surgery!

*What does the program involve?

•A medical evaluation figures out your needs and limitations

•A rehab/exercise program is then developed for you

• Who works with you?

•Physical therapist

•Exercise physiologist

•Healthcare professional

•Dietitian

•Learning to measure your own blood pressure and heart rate

• Increasing your limitations

•How to manage your condition with education and counseling

•Creating a healthy eating plan

•Support to return to normal activities or work

*How long will I attend?

•The program is designed to meet your needs

•Depending on your condition will determine the duration of visits

•Some programs last 3 months others years

*What are the benefits?

•Reduce risks of :

•Overall dying

•Future heart attacks and problems

•Can reduce stress

• Improve ability to move around

•Help you stay independent

• Improve over all health

•Lower blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate

• Improves skeletal muscles strength and endurance

•Promotes favorable exercise habits

*Programs In My Community

•You can be referred or ask your doctor about a local program

• It is often covered by health plans

•Offered in places such as:

•Hospitals

•Senior centers

•Civic centers

*Local Cardiac Rehab Centers

*Virtua Cardiac Rehab located in Voorhees and Sewell, NJ

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 7:30 am to 5 pm

Tuesday and Thursday: 7:30 am to 4 pm

*Why exercise after cardiac rehab?

•To decrease the heart’s need for oxygen

•To reduce your triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels

•To increase your HDL (good cholesterol) levels

•To lower blood pressure

•To keep vessels clear of blood clots and plaque build up

•To help manage your weight

*What kinds of exercise?

•Walking is a good exercise to start after heart surgery

• It is gentle on the body

•You can go at your own pace

•Always start slowly

•Biking (stationary or regular) after a few weeks

Week Minimum Time (min)

Times Per Day

Pace

1 5-10 2 Stroll

2 10-15 2 Comfortable

3 15-20 2 Comfortable

4 20-25 1-2 Comfortable/Stride

out

5 25-30 1-2 Comfortable/Stride

out

6 30 1-2 Comfortable/Stride

out

*Guidelines For Walking After You Leave The

Hospital

*Know Your Limits!•Expect to breathe faster, increased heart rate, sweating

and muscle fatigue.

• If you feel these symptoms:

•Sever heart pain

•Excessive shortness of breath

•Excessive sweating

•Blurred vision

•Dizziness, light-headed

•Nausea

•Cramping in legs and arms

Stop!

*Why eat healthy?

•Eating a healthy diet will prevent future complications of heart disease

•Eating healthy will also speed up your recovery and healing

• It will also provide the right nutrients to give your body energy

• It will help you build muscle and strengthen bones

*What should be in my diet?

•Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.

•Choose foods low in fat and cholesterol

•Eat less salt or sodium

•Cut back on sugar and sweets

•Eat more carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables) and fiber

•Limit portion sizes

*Statistics

•Heart disease is leading cause of death for both men and women

•Every 33 seconds someone in the US dies from cardiovascular disease

•Coronary heart disease kills 380,000 people annually

•By 2020 heart disease will be the leading cause of death world wide

•Every year about 720,000 Americans have hearts attacks

•An estimated 80 million Americans have one or more types of heart disease

*At Home Helpers

Here are some links to help you

at home

Blood Pressure Tracker

BMI Calculator

Medical Contact List

Medication Chart

Survival Skills Checklist