Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Patient Profiles

Harvey Winningham, Omahan and former cardiac rehab patient

Harvey Winingham's training in first aid may have helped save his life. The cardiac rehab team at The Nebraska Medical Center helped save it a second time. On June 2, 2004, Winingham was awakened by an intense, shooting pain in the middle of his chest. He immediately suspected a heart attack and urged his wife to call 911. Winingham was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at The Nebraska Medical Center where he was immediately administered a blood thinning medication to dissolve the clot. An angiogram performed before he was released showed no blockages remaining.

"I could have easily died from a heart attack that night if I hadn't known to act quickly," says Winingham. "The nurses said my quick response helped prevent further damage to my heart."

Shortly thereafter, Winingham enrolled in The Nebraska Medical Center's Cardiac Rehab program, which Winingham attributes to saving his life a second time. After several days of rehab, Winingham began to notice a recurring tightness in his chest whenever he exercised and mentioned it to the staff.

"I didn't think that much of it," he recalls. "But they responded immediately. I told them on Monday and by Wednesday I was scheduled for a heart catheterization."

The heart catheterization showed Winingham had a 90 percent blockage in one of his arteries. Two drug-eluting stents were placed in the artery to prevent renarrowing of the vessel. The stents are coated with a drug that is slowly released into the vessel walls over several weeks, discouraging scar tissue from forming. After a short recovery period, Winingham resumed the cardiac rehab program.

Cardiac rehab is recommended for individuals who have suffered a heart condition to help them regain their strength and aerobic endurance and learn healthy lifestyle habits. The program involves medically supervised exercise and education to improve heart health with the goal of returning to normal physical activities. The program not only aided Winingham's recovery but also helped him get his life back on track, he says.

"It was very motivating for me and enjoyable," notes Winingham. "If I hadn't gone through the rehab program, I'm sure I would have gone home and returned right back to my old habits. The program is long enough that it helps make the newer, healthy habits you learn routine."

Since completing the cardiac rehab program, Winingham now continues a regular exercise program at home. "I'm healthier now then I have ever been," he says. "I walk on a treadmill 30 minutes to an hour three to four times a week and do free weights. I'm eating much better, I've cut down on fatty foods and I'm eating a lot more fruits and vegetables. Hot dogs are one of my favorite foods and I probably haven't eaten not more than three hot dogs since this all happened."

"The girls in therapy saved my life,"adds Winingham. "And I am very grateful to them for that and for taking the time to talk to me and listen to my symptoms.