Rehab for Your Heart

If you’ve experienced a heart attack or heart failure, or if you’ve had a cardiac procedure or surgery, your cardiologist might recommend cardiac rehabilitation—a medically supervised program to help you recover and adapt to your new lifestyle. A three-part rehabilitation program, cardiac rehabilitation helps you learn about heart-strengthening exercise, get tips for heart-healthy living and gain education about stress reduction.

Typically, cardiac rehab is usually a three-phase program, but it can vary from hospital to hospital.

Phase I starts while the patient is still in the hospital recovering from a procedure or event or learning about a new diagnosis. During this time, you’ll learn about risk factors for heart issues and receive information about dietary and exercise restrictions for when you return home.

Phase II is the first part of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. During this phase, you’ll learn more about how exercise can improve your heart health, and you’ll begin a monitored exercise program under the watchful eyes of specialized trainers or nursing staff. You’ll also receive additional education during this portion of your recovery.

Phase III is typically a maintenance program, where you’ll continue to exercise, but you won’t be monitored as closely. You’ll learn more about a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes diet, exercise and stress reduction so you can continue to improve your health on your own.

To find out more about how to rehab your heart, please call our cardiac specialist, Dr. Safi Ahmed at (863) 419-4885 or visit our web site at www.HeartOfFloridaPhysicianGroup.com.

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