Heart & Vascular Rehabilitation
An important part of Merit Health's heart, or cardiac, care is helping patients return to the activities they enjoy through cardiovascular rehabilitation services. The multidisciplinary team of physical therapists and nutrition and exercise specialists work together to provide a customized cardiac rehabilitation approach that meets each patient's needs.
Who can participate?
We serve people who have heart disease or are at high risk for developing heart disease, as well as people recovering from:
- Coronary bypass surgery
- Coronary stent placement
- Heart attack
- Heart or lung transplant
- Stable angina
- Valve surgery
What are the benefits of cardiac rehab?
- Allows you to feel better, faster
- Improves blood cholesterol levels
- Improves energy
- Increases activity levels, strength and stamina
- Reduces body fat
- Reduces disability
- Reduces stress
- Reduces the risk of future heart problems
- Reduces tobacco use
What can I expect?
The program begins with an eight to 12 week outpatient component that usually starts when you're discharged from the hospital after a cardiac event. During this time, a registered nurse and exercise specialists will monitor your recovery and provide education, counseling and support. You will participate in three sessions per week that typically last an hour.
Our cardiovascular recovery program combines education, support and exercise therapy. It may be used following cardiac events such as a heart attack or after heart surgery. Patients will learn how to incorporate heart-healthy habits such as a proper diet, exercise and stress management techniques that can lead to a better quality of life. We offer:
- Focus on recovery – Cardiac rehab begins in the hospital, following a heart attack, heart failure or other acute illness. Before leaving the hospital, patients learn about their disease and risk factors that contribute to heart disease. They know what to expect during and after recovery, and receive home-exercise recommendations.
- Exercise counseling and support – Patients begin a medically supervised, monitored exercise program as a part of cardiac rehab that includes individual support from exercise professionals. Once monitoring is no longer necessary, patients continue with a customized exercise-based program and learn how to incorporate activity into their lifestyle.
- Heart-healthy lifestyle changes – Throughout the cardiac rehabilitation program, patients learn about good nutrition, stress management techniques and how to incorporate these behaviors into their lifestyle. During the maintenance phase of rehabilitation, continuing education will help reinforce healthy habits long term.
- Individual support – Health educators, exercise professionals, dietitians and other rehabilitation specialists provide support and education throughout the cardiac rehabilitation process. You can depend on a dedicated group of individuals who are focused on recovery.