Following a heart attack, hopping on a treadmill or exercise bike may be the last thing you want to do. Worries about another heart attack may leave you opting for a rest-only regimen rather than an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. In a recent review of research comparing cardiac rehab with traditional medical care alone, individuals who underwent cardiac rehab had a 26% reduced rate of cardiac death. With this in mind, many cardiac patients may have a change of heart about supervised exercise as a valuable tool for maximal recovery.
As an integral member of your cardiac rehab team, an exercise specialist will partner with you to develop a personalized exercise program. For the first 2-3 months of rehab, you'll exercise under close supervision at a cardiac rehab center, where your blood pressure and EKG will be monitored to make sure you're safe. As your heart heals, you'll learn how to safely exercise independently and incorporate more physical activity into your daily life.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), you can expect a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises while undergoing cardiac rehab. While exercise programs vary from individual to individual, you might perform 20-45 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week, and muscle-strengthening exercises 2-3 times a week.
If you're concerned about having another heart attack while exercising, the American Heart Association reassures that there is a very low incidence of cardiac events during supervised cardiac rehab exercise. While it is safe for many cardiac patients to begin an exercise-based cardiac rehab program soon after leaving the hospital, the NHLBI cautions that exercise may be unsafe for individuals with severe heart disease or extremely high blood pressure. Your cardiac rehab team will determine if exercise is safe for you.
Not all doctors bring the possibilities of cardiac rehab to the attention of their patients. If this is the case for you, don't delay in starting the conversation and getting on the road to recovery.
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