What You Should Know About Cardiac Rehabilitation

What is cardiac rehab? 

Your cardiologist will recommend cardiac rehabilitation ("cardiac rehab") if you recently had a heart attack or heart surgery. It also helps you manage a heart condition like high blood pressure.

Recovering from a heart problem or living with a heart issue can be overwhelming. You may be uncertain about how to engage in daily activities safely.

“Cardiac rehab helps your body heal and improves long-term quality of life,” said Sue Palo, Director of Rehabilitation & Community Services at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center. “Through supervised programs, such as exercise classes and support groups, patients realize they are not alone and are working toward shared goals with others in similar situations.”

Who benefits from cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation benefits patients who have a heart condition or are recovering from heart surgery, including:

• Angina
• Bypass surgery
• Coronary artery angioplasty with or without stent placement 
• Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
• Coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease)
• Heart or heart-lung transplant
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• High blood pressure
• Implant of ventricular assist device

What are the features of a cardiac rehab program?

A dedicated team of experts works closely with each patient to create a tailored, medically supervised program that emphasizes the importance of physical and psychological health. It helps manage risk factors and improve and maintain quality of life.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive therapy that combines: 

• Prescribed exercise training
• Cardiac risk factor modification
• Education on heart health
• Diet and nutrition counseling 
• Psychosocial support

Who oversees the cardiac rehab program? Is it safe?

“A cardiologist gives an initial referral to the program and then gets monthly progress updates,” said Palo.

Clinical staff, such as registered nurses and exercise physiologists, supervise cardiac rehab group exercise sessions. An onsite physician is immediately available in the event of an emergency. 

Individualized exercises keep patients safely in their prescribed training zone. They gradually increase their intensity and duration according to their response, fitness level and medical history. 

Regularly checking a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure ensures they are in their target zones and not overexerting.

Doctors, nurses, exercise physiologists and dieticians offer expertise and guidance in the lifestyle modifications necessary to reduce the patient’s risk of future cardiac events.

What are the different phases of cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation typically has three phases, depending on a patient’s condition and a cardiologist’s recommendation for the safest course of therapy.

Phase 1: Inpatient

The initial phase of cardiac rehabilitation occurs while the patient is still in the hospital. Typically, a physician recommends starting cardiac rehabilitation in an outpatient facility shortly after discharge. 

“The goals are to assess mobility and start at a safe, low-level range of motion and movement to help the patient return home safely,” said Ms. Palo. 

Phase 2: Outpatient

The second phase of cardiac rehabilitation typically includes 36 one-hour exercise sessions offered two to three times weekly. This phase includes medically prescribed and monitored exercise to help patients safely increase their functional capacity, strength and endurance.

Phase 3: Maintenance

During the third phase of cardiac rehabilitation, patients are now able to exercise on their own. They can exercise at home, at a local gym, or at a rehabilitation center offering a maintenance program.

What cardiac rehab exercises are part of the program?

Exercises vary according to a patient’s incoming fitness level but may include:

• Aerobic exercises—walking, riding a stationary bike, using a rowing machine, and using an elliptical or step trainer.
• Activities to strengthen muscles—using resistance bands, free weights or weight training machines.
• Exercising with equipment—an upper body ergometer, cross trainer and stair climber.
• Stretching and toning exercises.
• Balance exercises.

Does the program offer lifestyle modification programs?

“In addition to exercise programs, a cardiac rehab program includes lifestyle modification programs that provide helpful tools for good heart health and healthy living,” said Ms. Palo.

Programs may include:

• Nutrition
• Managing high blood pressure
• Weight management
• Diabetes education
• Stress management
• Meditation
• Smoking cessation

Does a cardiac rehab program include support groups?

“Support, understanding, and shared experiences and goals with other cardiac patients are essential to recovery and living with a cardiac condition,” said Ms. Palo. 

A cardiac rehab program typically offers groups focused on coping after a heart attack or heart surgery and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle (such as a walking club). It may also provide groups for related health conditions like stroke and diabetes.

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Find Care at Catholic Health

The DeMatteis Center for Cardiac Research and Education

Call 516-629-2040 for more information about the cardiac rehab program at The DeMatteis Center for Cardiac Research and Education (Greenvale, NY). For more information about DeMatteis Center programs, call 516-629-2000. 

The DeMatteis Center (Greenvale, NY) is part of St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, ranked one of the top hospitals in the country for cardiology. It offers the largest medically staffed cardiac fitness and rehabilitation program on Long Island and is one of the largest hospital-based programs in the country. The DeMatteis Center holds national certification from the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. 

Catholic Health also offers cardiac rehabilitation at Good Samaritan University Hospital (West Islip, NY).

Find a Catholic Health doctor near you. Or call 866-MY-LI-DOC (866-695-4362).

Learn more about Catholic Health’s cardiac rehabilitation services.