Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac rehab is suggested for all those patients who have undergone heart surgery, heart attack or diagnosed with a heart disease. The cardiac rehab programs include education, wide range of exercises and behavioral modifications designed to improve the patient's condition.
Hospital cardiac rehabilitations are available in all communities around the world. The program should be such that it meets the person's specific requirements and needs. These should be able to:
- Increase functional capacity of the heart.
- Reduce risk factors of any further heart problem or worsening of the present one.
- Improve outlook and emotional stability.
- Improve quality of life.
- Increase knowledge about the disease and self management.
- Educational classes: These classes educate the patient about his/her disease and suggestions for lifestyle changes to avoid the risk factors, including strategies to quit smoking as well as dietary tips to reduce fat and cholesterol consumption.
- Diet classes: Attention has to be paid to the food intake of a patient. For such patients alcohol and smoking have to be totally stopped. Their diet should include more of organic and natural fruits. The exact calories taken in a day also is required for the patient to understand and work accordingly.
- Exercises: Cardiac rehab exercises are given a great importance in cardiac rehabilitation. The patients have to undergo physical activities from walking, jogging, etc to sports like badminton, tennis, etc. Using the gymnasium is also recommended for such patients.
- Counseling: These programs focus on depression and other factors experienced by people with heart problems or who have gone through a heart surgery. These factors include getting back to work, stress management, and the new physical limitations.
- Medication: This is an important part of the cardiac physical therapy. Aspirin or antiplatelet agents are given that prevent blood clots and maintain proper blood circulation through the arteries. Satins reduce cholesterol and beta blockers, angitensin receptor blockers (ARBs), ACE inhibitors for controlling blood pressure.
Benefits of cardiac rehab:
- It helps to control the blood pressure.
- It reduces further chances of heart failure.
- It reduces physical pain and the frequency of the occurrence.
- It lowers the cholesterol levels.
- Through exercises and diet, the patient's weight is kept under control.
Once the patient has undergone cardiac rehab, he /she have to take care of his/her diet, exercise regularly and avoid stress. The cardiac rehabilitation can be done at the hospital as well as at home. Once the patient learns all the exercises and meditation techniques and implies the doctor and dietician's instructions at home the patient can complete his/her rehabilitation program with some guidance and monitoring. But the best results are seen at the center, where the program is carried on groups of patients.