Cardiac Rehabilitation

Tina Smith, RN, Washakie Medical Center

Question: How can cardiac rehabiliation help me?

Answer: If you've survived a heart attack, a cardiac rehabilitation program might be your next step to recovery.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiac rehabilitation programs are vital for those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke, or who have undergone recent heart surgery. Structured and supervised by your physician, a cardiac rehabilitation program can help you:

• Improve cardiovascular fitness
• Monitor your heart rate and blood pressure
• Reduce intake of foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol
• Quit smoking
• Manage stress
• Meet others who have experienced a similar event

You might not see a 100 percent recovery—not right away, at least—but the program can help reduce the risk factors for heart disease that can lead to another incident.

Talk to your doctor today about how a cardiac rehabilitation program can be tailored to your health needs.  Washakie Medical Center offers a medically supervised cardiac program, available with a doctor's referral.