Cardiac Rehab: Help After a Heart Attack

Surviving a heart attack or living with a heart condition is just the beginning of the journey. Learning to relax and enjoy life again after a crisis can be a tough emotional and physical transition. That’s where cardiac rehabilitation comes in.

Surviving a heart attack or living with a heart condition is just the beginning of the journey. Learning to relax and enjoy life again after a crisis can be a tough emotional and physical transition. That’s where cardiac rehabilitation comes in.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at LifeBridge Health is medically supervised and designed to educate patients and their families about each individual’s specific challenges and how to make the necessary lifestyle changes to be happy and healthy.

The rehab process begins during hospitalization and is vital to recovery after a heart attack, open-heart surgery or an angioplasty and/or stenting. It can also benefit people who experience stable chest pain.

This type of rehabilitation shows participants how to exercise and counsels them about nutrition and meals, stress management and the importance of “kicking the habit.” Subjects such as feelings of uncertainty and fear, how to approach sex and other physical activities, and how to interact with loved ones after an episode are discussed.

The cardiac rehab team at LifeBridge Health is made up of medical experts with different specialties including a board-certified cardiologist, a Phase II cardiac rehab nurse, an R.N. who is the program manager, a physical therapist, a registered dietitian and a staff of fitness professionals.

Visit http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/Main/LifeBridgeHealthCardiacRehabilitationProgram1.aspx to learn more about the program or call 410-601-WELL (9355).