What is Cardiac Rehabilitation? How Is It Done?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive program carried out under medical supervision, aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with heart health problems and helping them return to their daily lives more easily. This program aims to minimize the physical and psychological problems caused by heart diseases and support patients in living healthier and more active lives.
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive treatment program designed to support the physical, psychological, and social recovery of individuals who have experienced heart disease or undergone heart surgery. It includes regular exercise, healthy eating, smoking cessation, stress management, and medication management. Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to protect heart health, improve quality of life, and prevent future heart problems.
This program, especially recommended after heart attacks, heart surgeries, or heart failure, is carried out by a multidisciplinary team (cardiologist, physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist). It helps patients regain physical capacity, strengthen psychologically, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Who Can Benefit from Cardiac Rehabilitation?
- Patients who have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve surgery, or heart transplantation
- Patients who have had angioplasty or stent placement
- Patients with heart failure
- Patients with angina (chest pain)
- Patients with coronary artery disease
- Patients treated for valve disease
- Heart transplant recipients
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
The program is adapted to each patient’s individual needs and generally includes:
- Exercise Training: Aerobic exercises (treadmill, cycling, swimming), resistance exercises (weights or resistance bands), flexibility exercises (stretching)
- Education & Counseling: Information on heart disease, medication use, nutrition, stress management, smoking cessation
- Psychological Support: Individual/group therapy, emotional support for patients and families
- Risk Factor Management: Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and weight control
Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Acute Phase (In-Hospital Rehabilitation)
- Starts in the hospital
- Focuses on stabilization and preventing complications
- Involves light exercises, breathing exercises, and basic education
2. Subacute Phase (Outpatient Rehabilitation)
- Begins after discharge, lasting a few weeks
- Gradual increase in physical activity
- Personalized exercises, nutrition counseling, and psychological support
3. Chronic Phase (Extended Outpatient Rehabilitation)
- Starts after phase two, lasting months or more
- More intensive exercise, advanced education, and psychological support
4. Maintenance Phase (Lifelong Rehabilitation)
- Begins after phase three and continues lifelong
- Ongoing support for exercise, nutrition, and risk management
Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Enhances heart health and function
- Improves physical endurance and daily activity capacity
- Enhances quality of life
- Reduces future heart disease risk
- Provides psychological support (reduces anxiety, depression)
- Speeds up return to work and social life
Impact on Chronic Disease Management
1. Quality of Life:
- Improves physical function, independence, and psychological well-being
- Reduces depression and anxiety
- Encourages social participation and prevents isolation
2. Disease Management:
- Controls risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes)
- Supports proper medication use
- Promotes lasting healthy lifestyle changes
- Educates patients to actively manage their health
Physical Therapy for the Heart
Part of cardiac rehabilitation, focusing on strengthening the heart muscle, improving cardiovascular endurance, and enhancing physical capacity. Tailored by expert physiotherapists.
Goals:
- Strengthen heart muscle
- Increase cardiovascular endurance
- Improve functional capacity
- Enhance exercise tolerance
- Control risk factors
- Improve quality of life
FAQs
Long-Term Benefits
- Improved physical and psychological health
- Stronger heart and better exercise tolerance
- Reduced future heart event risk
- Better quality of life through permanent lifestyle changes
Pre-Program Preparation
- Medical clearance (ECG, stress test)
- Set personal health goals
- Start light exercise
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Review medications and diet
- Quit smoking/alcohol
- Seek psychological and family support
* Contents of this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The content of this page does not include information on medicinal health care at Liv Hospital .
