Cardiac Rehabilitation

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When it comes to moving forward after a heart problem or heart surgery, one of the best steps you can take is to enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

At SoutheastHEALTH, we offer medically supervised cardiac rehabilitation (also called rehab) to help you safely become active again and to lower your risk of more heart problems.

Our cardiac rehab program includes exercise, support and heart-healthy education. You might benefit from rehab if you've had angioplasty, coronary bypass surgery or a heart attack, or you've been diagnosed with a form of heart disease, like heart failure.

Cardiac Rehab Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Here's one fact: Cardiac rehab can reduce your risk of a second heart attack.

Reviewed 9/7/2022

7 FACTS & MYTHS ABOUT CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Cardiac rehabilitation is a good idea for almost anyone who's had a heart event, surgery or procedure. Cardiac rehab teaches you how to avoid further heart problems.

Cardiac rehab has proven health benefits. Unfortunately, many people who are eligible for the program don't take part.

Read up on some of the myths and facts about cardiac rehab below. If you think you or a family member might benefit, ask your doctor about the program.

FACT: You need a referral from your doctor for cardiac rehab.

You may benefit from a referral to cardiac rehab if you’ve experienced one or more of the following:

Heart attack.
Heart condition such as coronary artery disease, angina or heart failure.
Heart procedure or surgery such as angioplasty, valve replacement or bypass surgery.

If your doctor hasn’t brought up cardiac rehab, ask about it at your next visit.

MYTH: Health insurance doesn’t usually cover cardiac rehab.

Medicare and most other insurance providers pay for cardiac rehab for people who are eligible for it. If you're a candidate for rehab, talk to your medical team and your insurance provider to find out if it's covered.

FACT: Regular exercise is an important part of cardiac rehab.

A cardiac rehab specialist will design a physical activity program tailored to your abilities. You will be closely monitored throughout to make sure your heart is handling the load.

Other vital parts of cardiac rehab include:

Heart-healthy eating.
Stress reduction.
Quitting smoking.
Drug therapy.

MYTH: You can be too old to benefit from cardiac rehab.

Cardiac rehab is about more than living longer. It’s about living a high-quality life right now. Ask your doctor how cardiac rehab can be customized to your age and abilities.

FACT: The main goal of cardiac rehab is to help keep you from developing or dying from heart problems.

Cardiac rehab can:

Lower the risk for a second heart attack or surgery.
Reduce your overall risk of dying or having a future cardiac event.
Help you manage risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Help you lose weight.
Lessen chest pain.

MYTH: Cardiac rehab is only about improving physical health.

In addition to helping your body, cardiac rehab will also help you address the emotional aspects of having a heart problem or recovering after surgery. Your rehab team may include specialists like mental health professionals or social workers who focus specifically on this.

MYTH: Cardiac rehab is something you’ll do for the rest of your life.

Though the exact program will vary according to your needs, cardiac rehab usually lasts around three months, with sessions occurring several times a week.

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Visit our Heart Health topic center to learn more about taking care of your heart.

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Sources

American College of Cardiology. "Cardiac Rehabilitation." (graphic) https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/cardiac-rehabilitation/assets/infographic/cardiac-rehabilitation.
American College of Cardiology. "Cardiac Rehabilitation." https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/cardiac-rehabilitation.
American Heart Association. "Am I Eligible for Cardiac Rehab?" https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/am-i-eligible-for-cardiac-rehab.
American Heart Association. "Cardiac Rehab: Frequently Asked Questions." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/cardiac-rehab-faq.
American Heart Association. "Just 1 in 4 Medicare Recipients Participate in Cardiac Rehab." https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/01/14/just-1-in-4-medicare-recipients-participate-in-cardiac-rehab.

Cardiac rehab helps build up your stamina and strength, which helps with daily activities. It also can improve your health.

For instance, if you have chest pain (angina), cardiac rehab may reduce your symptoms. Rehab also could help you avoid future heart problems, such as heart attacks. It may even help you live longer.

What's more, people find emotional support in cardiac rehab. They make friends, have fun and build bonds from their shared experiences.

We make sure our rehab participants feel safe and emotionally supported.

What to Expect in Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac rehab is offered in phases. Phase I starts in the hospital, if you've had surgery.

Next is phase II—our outpatient program. Typically, you will join us for up to three sessions a week for 12 weeks.

You will learn to exercise with treadmills, stationary bikes, seated steppers and other equipment while wearing a heart monitor. Our highly skilled nurses will check your heart's rhythm and rate, your blood pressure, and other vitals while you exercise.

You'll participate in educational sessions too. The things you learn in rehab could help you manage stress and improve lifestyle habits, like your diet, that can affect the health of your heart.

Most health insurances cover the first two phases of rehab.

If you want, you can participate in phase III rehab (self-paid) at our Cape Girardeau and Dexter locations. Phase III rehab is just like phase II, except patients don't wear a heart monitor. Some of our participants like it so much that they choose to continue with phase III for months or even years.

Work Out Under the Watch of a Cardiac Rehab Specialist

You may be understandably anxious about exercising after a recent heart problem. That's why we are here. Unlike a regular gym, cardiac rehab is medically supervised. For instance, that means:

We will design an exercise program that's right for you—one that helps you increase your activity level gradually and safely.
Medical professionals, such as nurses and an exercise physiologist, are on hand to supervise your workouts.
Our staff is trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Quality Cardiac Rehab, Ease of Access

It's easier to join cardiac rehab and reap its benefits when a program is close to where you live. That's why we offer rehab in Cape Girardeau, Dexter and Sikeston.

Know that you will receive great care at any of these cardiac rehab locations.

In addition, our Cape Girardeau location is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Rehab for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Too

We now offer supervised exercise therapy for people with a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD).

People with PAD often have poor circulation in their legs, which causes pain in their legs when they walk. Our goal is to help you walk farther without leg pain. The program includes exercise sessions and healthy lifestyles education, just like in cardiac rehab.

We offer PAD rehab at our Cape Girardeau and Dexter cardiac rehab locations.

How to Join Cardiac or PAD Rehab at SoutheastHEALTH

Ask your provider if rehab is right for you. You will need a referral to participate.

Then call one of our locations to set up a rehab appointment.

Cardiac Rehabilitation