Cardiac Rehabilitation

Enhancing Your Health Through Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation at Wilson Health is designed to enhance the quality of life for people who have heart disease. Through an individually-tailored program of exercise and education developed by our staff and your physician, participants can improve their health and gain greater peace of mind. Goals are achieved with the help of our professional team of experts. Our programs are conducted under the direction of a physician. Wilson Health is accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).

Heart Disease

Heart disease claims over 500,000 lives in the United States annually. An additional 1,500,000 Americans suffer heart attacks, usually striking individuals in their most productive years. Changes in exercise, diet and smoking habits may prevent or decrease the severity of a reoccurrence and return the patient to a high degree of physiological, and psychosocial function.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Most patients return to their regular activities within a few months after a heart attack or surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation monitors and improves the recovery, increases fitness and reduces the risk of new events. These goals are accomplished through multidisciplinary teams of nurses, physicians, health educators, physical therapists, dietitians, social workers and psychologists. Cardiac rehabilitation provides exercise prescriptions to increase physical activity and fitness. Our program offers medically supervised and monitored exercise. The fit individual is able to exercise harder and longer, with less effort than when not fit. For heart patients, exercise may lessen the risk and severity of another attack.

Cardiac rehabilitation teaches patients about their disease and how to cope with its physical and psychological manifestations. Programs and individual counseling are available to help patients stop smoking, lose weight, lower high blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce emotional stress.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation:

Phase I: In the Hospital

The first stage begins in the hospital following a heart attack, angioplasty, heart surgery or a heart condition which requires monitoring. Progression to low level activity and education is emphasized.

Phase II: After Hospitalization

The second phase focuses on individual exercise prescriptions preformed in our rehabilitation center on an outpatient basis. While the emphasis is on aerobic activity, it may also include muscle strengthening and flexibility. The need for monitoring is decided on an individual basis. This phase also focuses on improving disease risk factors.

Phase III: Individual Program

Participants who continue in this outpatient phase have access to our staff, as well as the exercise equipment in our rehabilitation center. Risk factor and education programs are also available. Treatment plans are guided by patient goals, needs and capabilities. Participants will discover their strengths and deficiencies while adjusting their lifestyles for optimal health.

Educational topics:

  • Recovering from heart disease
  • Lowering your cholesterol through good nutrition and physical activity
  • Beginning a home exercise program and purchasing exercise equipment
  • Understanding your medications
  • Recognizing disease signs and symptoms, and knowing when to seek medical attention
  • Reducing the potential of another heart attack through risk factor modification
  • Progressing your physical activity at work and leisure
  • Preparing for your return to work

For the participants, cardiac rehabilitation:

  • Provides specific guidelines for physical activity
  • Serves as a resource for educational information
  • Decreases anxiety and depression
  • Improves quality of life
  • Facilitates return to work
  • Reduces exacerbations and hospitalizations
  • Promotes independence and self-reliance
  • Increases exercise tolerance

For your physician, cardiac rehabilitation:

  • Functions as an interactive communication tool between you and your doctor.
  • Provides your physician with information about your recovery by monitoring vital signs, symptoms and exercise responses including the electrocardiogram, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion and dyspnea. This service is for participants in our monitor program.

For more information about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, please call (937) 498-5574.