The Importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation for Healing Your Heart

Heart attacks are one of the most common life-threatening events that Americans experience. According to a study, around 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year. One in four of those have already had one. With hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing a dangerous health issue, there’s been more emphasis on cardiac care to help prevent such problems from occurring.
Fortunately, cardiac rehabilitation can help one recover from a heart problem requiring medical care or surgery. If you or a loved one have a history of heart problems, cardiac rehab may ultimately save you. Here’s what you need to know about cardiac rehab and how it can help you heal your heart:

All About Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program designed for anyone recovering from a heart problem such as heart failure or a heart attack. It includes various aspects to improve heart health, such as physical activity, education about living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthily, taking prescribed medicine, and quitting unhealthy habits like smoking. The program also provides counseling for patients to seek ways to reduce stress and improve their mental health. A team of experts can guide you through it. These may consist of your healthcare team, exercise and nutrition experts, physical therapists, counselors, and other professionals that can give valuable advice on your journey to rehabilitate your heart.

Who Benefits From Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehab services are available to anyone who has experienced a heart problem. Studies have shown that anyone can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation regardless of age, sex, and severity of heart problems.
Still, it’s important to note that some people are less likely to begin or complete a cardiac rehabilitation program. These people include women, particularly minority women, as studies have found they are less likely than men to pursue cardiac rehabilitation. This may be attributed to doctors being less inclined to suggest it to women.
Similarly, older adults are less likely to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program after a heart problem. They may believe they cannot perform the recommended physical activity due to their age. Other medical conditions may also make exercise more difficult for them, such as arthritis. However, the importance of rectifying other physical conditions places even more value in cardiac rehabilitation for older adults, as it improves their strength and mobility, making daily tasks more feasible to do.

How Cardiac Rehabilitation Helps

Cardiac rehab positively impacts the body in several ways. It strengthens the heart and body after a heart attack, decreasing the likelihood of it happening again. It can also relieve heart problem symptoms, like chest pain. It encourages healthier habits like exercising more often, quitting smoking, and eating more nutritious meals. A nutritionist or dietitian involved in the program may help you focus on eating nutrient-rich foods with healthy fats to keep your health in top condition.

Another benefit of cardiac rehabilitation is that it reduces stress and improves your mood, as people’s mental health tends to suffer after a heart attack. It can also increase your strength and energy, making it easier to perform daily activities like climbing the stairs or carrying groceries. Ultimately, it can also protect you from future illness and death from heart disease, as studies have discovered that cardiac rehabilitation lowers the chance that you will pass away in the five years after a heart attack or bypass surgery by 35 percent.

Conclusion

Cardiac rehabilitation is available in many hospice and palliative care facilities, such as ours. You can start cardiac rehabilitation when you are at the hospital or when you leave it. By pursuing cardiac rehab, you’ll be improving your quality of life and your overall health. Morristown Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a premier nursing home located directly across from Morristown Medical Center. We are the bridge between hospital and home, delivering rehabilitation services such as cardiac and nursing care imbued with warmth and compassion. Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you!