What is a cardiac rehabilitation program?

 

The cardiac rehabilitation program is a custom-made healthy lifestyle education program. If you have had a heart attack, facing heart diseases or just received a heart surgery, your physician should advise you to join a cardiac rehabilitation program to help you restore your health. The main goal of the cardiac rehabilitation program is to help you recuperate, to prevent deterioration of heart disease and reduce the risk of other heart problems.

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Who is suitable to join the cardiac rehabilitation program?
 

If you have the following medical history or have received a heart surgery, the cardiac rehabilitation program will have a greater benefit on you:
 

• Coronary heart disease

• Heart attack

• Heart failure

• Peripheral arterial disease

• Angina

• Cardiomyopathy

• Some kind of congenital heart disease

• Coronary angioplasty (also known as "balloon angioplasty")

• Coronary artery bypass surgery

• Heart valve replacement surgery

​How does the cardiac rehabilitation program benefit you in a long run?

 

Medical researches prove that the survival rate, quality of life, physical and mental health of heart patients who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program can be significantly improved. It also helps reduce the re-occurrence of heart disease and the risk of coronary arterial disease and other heart disease in the future. The cardiac rehabilitation program can help you regain physical fitness, improve your diet, get rid of the poor lifestyle habits, quit smoking and teach you how to face the disease in a relaxing way. The cardiac rehabilitation program can help you feel more healthy and happy than before.

 

Who are conducting the cardiac rehabilitation program?

 

Cardiac rehabilitation program is mainly conducted by a cardiac rehabilitation nurse, registered dietitian and physical trainer:

 

Our rehabilitation nurse will understand and follow-up on your health conditions and post-operative care, such as proper drug-taking, self-monitoring of blood pressure, and blood sugar (for patients who have diabetes), smoking cessation, how to deal with heart pain and fatigue and psychological counseling.

 

Our registered dietitian will teach you how to eat healthily and choose heart-healthy foods. If necessary, weight management skills will be taught to achieve weight loss to promote heart health and prevention of heart disease.

 

Our physical trainer will provide you with simple step-by-step exercise prescription such as walking, cycling, rowing, or even jogging and muscle training to improve your cardiovascular health. If you've never done any exercise, do not worry. Your cardiac rehabilitation team and your physician will help you design a comfortable and appropriate exercise plan.

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How long is the cardiac rehabilitation program?

 

Based on your current health status and health goals, your cardiac rehabilitation team and your physician will suggest you with an individual or small group cardiac rehabilitation program.  Our center provides several "Basic” and "Advanced” cardiac rehabilitation programs which lasts for 8 weeks. Your physical will usually advise you to attend a “basic” program to begin with, and then proceed to “advanced” ones which is sustainable to maintain and improve heart health. If necessary, participant can join the program repeatedly.