Cardiac Rehabilitation is the coordinated sum of activities required to influence favourably the underlying cause of CVD, as well as to provide the best possible physical, mental and social conditions, so that the individuals may by their own efforts, preserve or resume optimal functioning in their community and through improved health behaviour, slow or reverse progression of disease.
Structure of CR
Phase I : Inpatient CR program comprising of early mobilisation & health education.
Phase II: Supervised exercise based outpatient program in the post discharge period. Patient exercise for 3-4 times/week for a total of 36 sessions over 3-4 months.
Phase III: Non supervised, non ECG monitored life time maintenance program in which physical fitness and additional risk factor reduction are emphasised.
Components of CR
CR includes all aspects of risk factor modification, supervised exercise and medications, which includes Health Education, Exercise training, Diet modification, Weight reduction, Smoking cessation, Stress management and Psychosocial& Sexual counselling.
CR Team
The Cardiac Rehab team is a multidisciplinary team of Cardiologist, Cardiac Surgeon, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist, Dietician, Yoga therapist and Paramedical staffs.
Eligible patients
Patients who have
- Myocardial Infarction
- Angioplasty or Bypass surgery
- Stable heart failure
- Pacemaker or ICD implantation
- Valve surgery
- Peripheral artery disease
- Heart transplant
- Grown up Congenital Heart Disease
Benefit from Cardiac Exercise
- Lower risk of Cardiovascular mortality
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve cholesterol levels
- Help control your diabetes
- Reduce angina symptoms
- Reduce symptoms of heart failure
- Help to lose weight.
Life style changes in CR
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of future problems. Medicines and counselling can help you quit for good.
Education and counselling can help you learn how to reduce episodes of angina . Angina occurs during activities and is often relieved by rest and medicines.
Education combined with exercise, diet, and support can help you stay at a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to. Losing even a small amount of weight can improve your overall health and reduce your risk for further heart problems.
Return to work
To keep getting the benefits of cardiac rehab, you will have to continue to exercise and follow the healthy lifestyle changes you've learned.
- Lifestyle changes combined with exercise may be more important than exercise alone in keeping your heart healthy. Staying with your program can give you the support you need to make these changes a permanent part of your life and may help reduce the risk of further serious heart problems.
- Getting back to work. After a heart problem , cardiac rehab can help you return to work safely. How quickly you can return to work depends on how bad your heart problem is and how much physical activity your job requires.
- Resuming sex. You or your partner may be worried that you will have symptoms such as chest pain or will not have enough energy for sex. Sharing your concerns and fears about having sex is important for both partners.
- Managing stress. Stress management may lower the risk of serious heart problems, such as heart attacks. People who do not deal well with anger and frustration may have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. Learning to manage stress is often part of programs to help you make positive changes in your lifestyle.
- Depression is often overlooked, especially in older adults, but commonly occurs after a serious heart problem. Depression can make it difficult for you to have the energy to perform some of the cardiac rehab programs. If you feel you suffer from symptoms of depression, make sure you seek help.
Recommendation for Cardiac Rehab
As per American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology, CR is Class I A recommendation for patients undergoing PCI or CABG. There is 45-47% reduction in all cause mortality in patients who participated in CR after PCI as compared to non-participants and 31% lower hospital readmissions. A financial benefit of 640 dollar per quality adjusted year of life gained has been reported.
In view of large number of supportive evidence in favour of Cardiac Rehabilitation, it is highly recommended for patients who are candidates for cardiac rehab sited above should join Cardiac Rehab program very soon for Early recovery , Better functional quality of living, minimising cost of medication & hospitalisation and Preventing future cardiac events.
Dr RusheeKanta Mohanta (Consultant Cardiologist)
HEARTMATE INSTITUTE. Sector 6 Cuttack. 9040183301, 9040283301