A structured cardiac rehabilitation program is one of the best ways to gradually and safely increase your exercise after having a heart attack. 

After a heart attack, your heart has become weakened or possibly damaged, significantly increasing your risk of future cardiac events. Our cardiac rehabilitation team will monitor your vitals during exercise to ensure you are exercising and progressing safely. 

A supervised exercise program helps: 

• Strengthen your heart – improving its function and endurance.
• Speed up your recovery – helping you return to work and functioning normally again.
• Reduce risk of hospitalization – keeping you healthier and feeling better.
• Lower your risk of death – The American Heart Association states that cardiac rehabilitation can decrease mortality by 20 to 30% over five years. 

Most patients can start walking about a week after suffering a heart attack and can gradually increase their walking and exercise over the next few weeks under the supervision of our cardiac rehab staff. A typical cardiac program involves: 

• 36 sessions over three months, focusing on:
  • Safe exercises.
  • Weight management, nutrition and risk reduction (such as controlling high cholesterol, blood pressure and weight).
  • Reducing depression, which is common after a cardiac event.

Participants also benefit from the camaraderie and support from other heart disease patients in the rehab program who share similar experiences. 

Cardiac rehabilitation should not be considered a quick fix, but a program to building lasting healthy lifestyle habits.

Studies show that people who participate in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program are more successful in making positive lifestyle changes, reducing their risk for future heart attacks.