What is Ongoing Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a treatment programme to help heart patients manage their condition, improve their health and recover their quality of life after a cardiac event, such as a heart attack or heart surgery.

A heart rehabilitation programme during Phase III usually includes:

• Exercise

• Education and advice

• Relaxation and emotional support

• A chance to meet others going through similar experiences

It can be offered in a variety of settings, and nowadays it is not just a service that is run from the local hospital, but increasingly there are community and home based services too.

People often refer to their heart rehabilitation as happening in phases, this being I – IV. After having had surgery, or recovering from a heart attack or angioplasty patients are sometimes offered a choice as to where they would like to do their rehabilitation, this part is known as Phase III.

It is now becoming increasingly common for those who have had an angioplasty to be referred straight to Phase IV, and indeed some patients who have had heart surgery such as valve replacement may also find this being offered.

Phase III is not only heart rehabilitation exercise sessions but vital information and education is given. There are also opportunities to meet and ask questions of other health professionals and most importantly the specialist heart nurses, who give lots of encouragement and support.

Having then taken part in this phase, patients are then encouraged to move on to long term support and management through the community Phase IV programmes which are often run in church halls and local leisure centres. These programmes are run by advanced fitness instructors who have undergone specialist training with the British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Phase IV cardiac rehabilitation offers ongoing, long term support to those who have either had cardiac surgery or a cardiac event.

Who can participate in Phase IV?

. Post heart attack

. Stable Angina

. Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

. Post Angioplasty, stent, with or without a previous event

. Those who are stable awaiting a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft or Angioplasty

. Stable chronic Heart failure

. Controlled Arrhythmia’s

. Post Valve replacement or repair

. Implanted Defibrillator

. Permanent Pacemaker

. Post Heart transplant

One of the major lifestyle changes involves taking regular physical activity that is appropriately prescribed. This is where a Phase IV instructor can offer individual expert advice, ongoing support and encouragement on a long term basis offering the individual a suitable heart rehabilitation exercise programme.

Elaine Roles is a Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist, and gives away tons of advice on life and recovery after a cardiac event for free. Check out her website http://www.heartrehabilitationexercise.com

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