Heart Disease & Cardiac Rehabilitation: Benefits You Can’t Ignore

A diagnosis of heart disease can be very frightening and can lead to significant fear and uncertainty about the future. It's no wonder that many individuals feel anxious and overwhelmed. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing about 696,000 people each year, which is about 1 in every 5 deaths. Despite the advancements in medical treatment many individuals who experience cardiac events do not receive comprehensive follow up care, including cardiac rehabilitation (rehab).

Cardiac rehab is an exercise program designed to improve the health and well-being of individuals who have had a heart attack, heart failure, or heart problems requiring surgery. Research has shown that exercise reduces a patient's risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers. It can lower cholesterol levels by decreasing the "bad" LDL and increasing the "good" HDL. Cardiac rehab can also improve strength, increase muscular endurance and stamina, which make patient's activities of daily living easier and improves quality of life. Often, after a cardiac event many patients will face emotional challenges. During cardiac rehab participants build relationships with others who are undergoing similar experiences, providing social support during their recovery. Cardiac rehab is such an important part of the treatment plan because it can not only prevent future heart problems and reduce hospital re-admissions, but most importantly decrease a patient's risk of death. Despite these proven benefits, it is estimated that only 20-30% of eligible patients take part in a cardiac rehab program after a heart event (AHA).

Rutland Regional Medical Center's (RRMC’s), cardiac rehab program offers a combination of supervised aerobic exercise and strength training, along with education sessions. Weekly presentations are provided to participants regarding coronary artery disease, nutrition and lifestyle changes, medications, and stress management. Participants usually attend RRMC’s cardiac rehab program 3 days per week and exercise in small groups of up to eight. Classes last approximately 60 minutes and participants stay with our program anywhere from 18-36 sessions. While in class blood pressures are taken regularly and they wear a heart monitor that is observed closely by our cardiac rehab nurses.

Participants in our rehab program have experienced life changing transformations. Many individuals often begin their cardiac rehab journey using assistive devices, such as walkers and canes and by the end of the program they can walk on their own without any devices needed. Individuals have shared that cardiac rehab “builds confidence and comfort level after surgery” because they are monitored in class and “learn how hard they should be working without over doing it”. It also helps them build an exercise routine to follow when they have graduated the program. Participants have also shared that they “don’t feel alone in what they are dealing with” and the program has helped them “deal with the emotional aspect of heart disease”.

Regardless of heart disease or not, most adults should engage in physical activity to promote good health and wellness. General guidelines from the AHA recommend at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days per week. 

If you or someone you know could benefit from cardiac rehab reach out and talk to your healthcare provider.

Written by Melissa Fay, BS, Exercise specialist, Sheila O’Hara, BSN, RN, and Kathy Sgorbati, BSN, RN, RN-CVBC, the Cardiac Rehab team at Rutland Regional Medical Center.