Cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a personalized program of education and exercise. The supervised program is designed to improve health in those with heart disease. It's often recommended after a heart attack or heart surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation involves exercise training, emotional support and education about a heart-healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle habits include eating a nutritious diet, managing weight and quitting smoking.

Cardiac rehab is done to improve health in those with a heart condition or a history of heart surgery. The goals of cardiac rehab are to: Improve recovery after a heart attack or heart surgery. Reduce the risk of future heart trouble. Prevent the heart condition from worsening. Improve quality of life. Your healthcare professional may recommend cardiac rehab if your medical history includes: Known blockages in heart arteries causing pain with activity. Heart attack. Heart failure. Cardiomyopathies. Certain congenital heart diseases. Blocked arteries in the legs or arms that cause pain during activity. Cardiac rehab may be recommended after heart procedures that include: Angioplasty and stenting. Coronary artery bypass surgery. Heart or lung transplant. Heart valve repair or replacement. Procedures to open clogged arteries in legs or arms.

There is a small risk of heart-related complications from physical exercise. Cardiac rehab therapy is personalized. You do the amount of exercise and the kind of exercises that are right for you. Regular monitoring lowers the risk of complications. Specialists help you learn to do exercises correctly to avoid injuries.

Before you begin a program, your healthcare team performs tests. They check your physical abilities, medical limitations and risk of heart complications. This helps create a cardiac rehab program that's safe and helpful for you. Your treatment team then works with you to design your cardiac rehab program. Cardiac rehab can begin while you're still in the hospital. But it's usually done once you're home. In most cases, the program has three weekly, one-hour sessions, over 8 to 12 weeks. Some rehab centers have virtual programs with at-home sessions. Virtual programs may use: Telephone sessions. Video conferencing. Mobile phone applications. Wearable monitoring devices. Check with your insurer to see if cardiac rehab is a covered expense. Private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid may cover the costs in the United States.