Cardiovascular Classes and Support Groups

At North Colorado Medical Center, we offer a variety of classes and support groups to help you and your heart:

• Adult Fitness
• Body Shoppe
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Education Classes
• Heart Failure Education Classes
• ICD Education & Support Group
• PAD Screening

Adult Fitness
Make 2009 the year you develop the habit of exercise to improve your health and fitness and tone your muscles.  Join a program supervised by health professionals and choose from four class times that are convenient for your busy schedule.  No contracts are required.  Cost:  $45 per month per person or $80 per couple.  Call Cardiac Rehab at (970) 350-6204 to enroll.

Body Shoppe
Body Shoppe is a 12-week lifestyle change program sponsored by the Cardiac Rehab Program of North Colorado Medical Center.  Program staff will help you develop healthy habits and maintain your motivation in 2009.  The program includes:  stress testing, lipid testing, flexibility and body fat measurement, an exercise prescription, exercise up to five times per week, and nine evening education classes (including a healthy cooking class). There are four choices of exercise times to meet your busy schedule. As an incentive, if you attend 85 percent of the sessions, you will receive follow-up fitness testing free. 

• New dates coming soon!
• North Colorado Medical Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation
• $299/person or $500/couple
• Call 970- 350-6204 for information and to register

Cardiac Rehabilitation Education Classes

Learn about your heart, risk factors to heart disease, and the benefits of exercise, healthy eating, and using coping skills to manage stress.  These two-hour classes are free, but you must call Cardiac Rehab at (970) 350-6204 to register.  Wednesday classes meet at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.  Thursday classes meet at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. in the Cardiac Rehab Classroom. 

• Wednesday, Oct. 7: "Keep Your Heart Healthy"
• Thursday, Oct. 8: "Keep Your Heart Healthy"
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: "What's For Dinner?"
• Thursday, Oct. 22: "What's For Dinner?"
• Wednesday, Nov. 4: "Managing Change and Stress"
• Thursday, Nov. 5: "Managing Change and Stress" 

Heart Failure Education Classes 
NCMC’s Heart Failure Program is now offering Heart Failure Education Classes for patients and families at no cost.  The class is offered at NCMC the first week of every odd month and are scheduled throughout 2009. Topics include:  Explanation of heart failure, medications, devices,  nutrition, cooking demonstrations, stress management and activity recommendations.  For more information, call the heart failure clinic at (970) 350-6953.

ICD Education and Support Group
Learn about implanted cardioversion defibrillators and related cardiac topics; get your questions answered and meet others who have and ICD.  Classes are held in the CVI Classroom at North Colorado Medical Center.  Refreshments will be provided. For information, call (970) 350-6204.

• October 27
• 5 p.m.
• NCMC - CardioVascular Institute Conference Room, 3rd Floor
• Chuck Howard, PhD, MSPharm Licensed Clinical and Medical Psychologist speaking on "Mindfulness/Acceptance and the Mind/Body Connection"

PAD Screening
Find out if you are at risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).  If you have PAD, you have greater risk of having a heart attack, and those who have blockages in their coronary arteries have a greater risk of PAD.  Cardiology specialists will ask several questions related to PAD:  previous or current smoking; diabetes; leg discomfort when walking or leg fatigue when walking a short distance.  If you are found to be at risk of PAD, you will be scheduled for a free ABI (ankle brachial index) screening. 

• By appointment
• Cardiology Clinic of the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado
• Free
• Call (970) 351-8020 for the assessment.