Overview
A heart attack or heart surgery can be scary, but many people go on to enjoy their lives with their family and friends. If you have been through a heart attack or heart surgery, a doctor may recommend a program called heart rehab to help you recover.
Cardiac rehabilitation can help you get stronger and stay healthier with exercise, education, and emotional support.
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation or Heart Rehab?
Rehabilitation is a treatment used to support patients with heart conditions. This treatment helps them regain their fitness, stamina, and ability to live a normal life. Rehabilitation may include exercises to improve heart function, counselling to help patients learn healthy habits and group activities. It includes physical activity, counselling on eating healthy and balanced meals, quitting smoking, taking medicines as prescribed, and meditation to improve mental health and relieve stress.
People usually receive cardiac rehabilitation after having a heart attack or heart surgery.
What Types of Heart Rehab Are Available?
There are many types of rehabilitation available, such as
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- Physical therapy – It focuses on improving moving dysfunction. Therapists work with patients to help them restore strength, movement, stability, and functional ability with targeted exercises.
- Occupational therapy – It focuses on restoring the ability of an individual to carry out day to day activities. Using adaptive equipment, the therapists teach patients to enhance their functional abilities.
- Yoga & Mindfulness meditation – Yoga helps people to bring their mind, body, and soul in a perfect sync. Meditation helps them to feel relaxed and relieves stress.
These therapies can help to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and range of motion. They can also help to reduce pain and increase mental well-being.
What are the Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Heart Surgery or Heart Attack?
Rehabilitation, or a heart rehab, after heart surgery or a heart attack, can help improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination and reduce pain for those who undergo it. It can also help to reduce the recurrence of health problems related to heart disease and improve psychological well-being.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a specialised treatment that can help people with heart disease or a heart attack regain their health and quality of life.
The benefits of heart rehab include
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- Reducing the risk of future heart problems
- Improving physical function and quality of life
- Enhancing emotional well-being
- Helping patients learn about healthy lifestyle habits
- Adding years to their life expectancy
If you want to learn more about cardiac rehabilitation or wish to find a program near you, contact your healthcare provider or search online for resources.
When To Start Heart Rehab Treatment?
You might be able to start rehab after you are discharged from the hospital. It is usually a few weeks but can take longer in some cases. In the initial phase of your rehabilitation, a nurse or therapist will visit you in the hospital and talk with you about your condition, treatment, and plans for your recovery.
Then they will schedule an appointment with a team of health professionals, including your doctor and nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, counsellors, and nutritionists.
The heart health experts will then work together to design a plan to meet your goals and needs. This might include a combination of physical activity, diet, and lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking and alcohol use.
What Are the Different Phases of Cardiac or Heart Rehab?
Cardiac rehab works in three phases to ensure that the patient recovers completely.
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- The first phase – During your first phase, which is generally inpatient, the rehab team will assess your physical ability and motivation to tolerate rehabilitation.
- The second phase – This phase is known as the outpatient stage, where your healthcare practitioner checks your heart health and ensures it is functioning well. In this phase, the rehab team helps you with physical activities so that you can recover soon.
- Third phase – This is when patients continue to learn new ways and manage their disease. They may also receive support from therapists as they transition back into everyday life.
In most cases, a hospital-based heart rehab program is the best choice for you. This is where your care team meets with you in-person several times a week for 12 weeks. When you get home, you must gradually increase your activity level.
When to Consult a Doctor
You can also get in touch with the expert cardiology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.
Conclusion
Rehabilitation after heart surgery or a heart attack can be a difficult process. Still, it can be made easier with the right preparation and resources available to help you through it. We hope this article has provided valuable information on heart rehab, what to expect during your rehabilitation process, and helpful resources to support you along the way.
FAQs About Cardiac Rehabilitation
Q. What rehabilitation should I expect after a heart attack or heart surgery?
A. Depending on the type of heart attack or surgery you underwent, rehabilitation may involve various exercises and therapies. However, most people need to recuperate at home with plenty of rest and activity. Rehabilitation should begin immediately after the heart attack or surgery and continue for at least six months.
Q. How long will the rehabilitation process take?
A. When you injure yourself, your body goes into shock. This response triggers a cascade of events in your body, leading to healing. The rehabilitation process has no definite time frame, but it can vary from person to person. The length of the rehabilitation process will be based on the severity of your injury and other factors, such as your medical history and lifestyle.
Q. What activities should I avoid during the rehabilitation process?
A. When recovering from an injury or surgery, avoiding activities that could put undue strain on your body is important. This includes things like heavy lifting, running, and jumping. In addition, it is important to take it easy on the weekends and rest as much as possible.
Q. What lifestyle changes should I make to ensure a successful recovery?
A. Heart surgery can be a life-changing event, but it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. For anyone considering heart surgery, it’s important to understand what lifestyle changes you should make to ensure a successful recovery. After heart surgery, it is important to ensure you eat a healthy diet and get enough physical activity.
Q. What are support services available to help me during the rehabilitation process?
A. Heart surgery is a major life event, and it can leave many people needing support services. From physical therapy to financial assistance, various services are available to help those who have undergone heart surgery.
References
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- https://blog.rehabselect.net/the-four-cardiac-rehab-phases
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cardiac-rehabilitation/about/pac-20385192