Cardiac Rehabilitation

A New Lease on Life

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Glacier Medical Associates is designed to help patients with heart problems return to their daily activities as soon as possible.  Participants include patients who have suffered heart attacks or undergone bypass surgery and individuals who suffer from angina (chest pain caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart). Patients who have had angioplasty  (PTCA) or valve surgery also are eligible.

Program supervision is provided by a registered nurse and exercise physiologist.  The goal is to improve overall cardiovascular conditioning and improve exercise tolerance.  This allows patients as well as family to move toward a healthy and active lifestyle.

Each year in the United States, nearly 700,000 people survive serious heart attacks.  Another 2 million people under age 65 will show signs of heart disease.  Because a healthy heart is so important, Glacier Medical Associates has established a comprehensive cardiac rehab program.

Information

Call the Cardiac Rehab Coordinator at Glacier Medical Associates to find out how cardiac rehab can be your new lease on life. 862-2515

Phase I

Cardiac Rehab begins immediately upon hospitalization. Patients with serious cardiac illnesses are admitted to the Special Care Unit, a high-tech environment where patents receive specialized care from nurses who are experts in caring for person with life threatening illnesses. Later in this phase, patients progress to intermediate care. Close monitoring and assessments continue until hospital discharge.

PHASE II

Outpatient cardiac rehab begins with exercise and education as major program components.

Exercise- Participants attend an exercise session three times a week for a maximum of twelve (12) weeks.  Each session consist of an initial assessment, warm-up, aerobic exercise (treadmill or air dyne bicycle), and cool down.  An individualized exercise prescription, a home exercise program, and guidelines for “routine” daily activities are developed.  Upon graduation, participants are encouraged to enter phase lll which further enhances cardiovascular condition.

Education- Cardiac patients and their families often have many questions and concerns related to living with heart problems.  Included in Phase ll is a comprehensive education program which offers information and support toward modifying cardiac risk factors and making positive lifestyle changes.

Physician Involvement- your physician continues to direct your health care and will make any necessary changes in your rehab program.  Your physician will receive written progress reports monthly but will be contacted immediately if problems arise.

PHASE III

Because regular cardiovascular conditioning needs to be an integral part of a healthy and active lifestyle, participant completing phase ll are encouraged to exercise at the Physical Therapy Department. Treadmill, bicycles, an upper body ergo meter and weight equipment are available. Blood pressure and heart rate are monitored at rest and during exercise. This phase extends through the first year of rehab.

PHASE IV

All cardiac participant are encouraged to continue to exercise through the independent exercise program.

Usefull Facts on Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S.  Half a million people die each year from heart disease.  Many people develop symptoms of CHD when they are in their 40’s and 50’s, interrupting a most productive time.
• The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.  In CHD, these arteries become blocked, decreasing blood flow and causing angina (chest pain), the need for bypass surgery, or angioplasty.  When the artery becomes completely blocked, a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI) occurs.  250,000 people suffer MI’s each year.
• Chances of a person developing CHD are increased when one or more risk factors are present.  Risk factors include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, diabetes, a low activity level, obesity, stress and age.  More men than women develop heart disease, but it is the leading cause of death among women.
• Cardiac rehabilitation is an important tool to fight CHD.  Cardiac rehabilitation has three main features.  The first is education.  Patients and their families learn how to modify lifestyles to reduce their risk factors.  Since CHD is life-style related and can be an inherited disease, it is important that the patient’s spouse and children do all they can to decrease their own risk of heart disease.
• The second feature of cardiac rehabilitation is an exercise program.  Patients exercise at an individually prescribed level indicated by their medical history and personal goals.  Heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram may be monitored as they exercise.  Patients gain confidence by being active in a medically supervised setting.
• 100,000 people participate in cardiac rehab in this country each year.  Participants include those who have had a heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, or coronary angioplasty, people with angina, heart arrhythmias, hypertension, or other risk factors.  Programs can be held at an acute care hospital or medical center, a hospital or university-based outpatient facility, a physician’s office, or a community center such as the YMCA.  Most insurance plans cover all or part of an EKG-monitored exercise program.  A physician’s referral is needed to enter the exercise program.  Close contact is kept with each patient’s physician.

For more information about cardiac rehabilitation, contact Glacier Medical Associates at 862-2515.