Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a customized program of exercise and education designed to help improve your overall health by identifying and reducing the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease. Cardiac rehab programs significantly increase your chances of survival and are recommended by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.

Cardiac rehab is often divided into phases that involve various levels of monitored exercise, dietary/diabetic counseling, emotional support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce risks of heart disease. It’s designed to help you restore lost vigor and maintain a healthy, productive lifestyle.

Questions and answers about cardiac rehab

Am I an appropriate candidate for cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is appropriate for those individuals that have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, or have risk factors that may contribute to the development of heart disease such as:

  • Family history of heart related disease
  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Excess body weight

Your diagnosis and the heart-related treatment you receive may also make you an appropriate candidate for cardiac rehabilitation:

  • Angina Pain
  • Post Stent Placement
  • Heart Attack
  • Bypass Surgery
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Value Replacement or Repair
  • Pacemaker/ICD

Will my insurance cover the costs?

Most health insurance plans will cover the cost of cardiac rehabilitation if you meet the above criteria. It’s important that you understand the details of your plan, but as a service to you the staff will verify your insurance and notify you of any out-of-pocket costs before beginning the program.

What if my insurance company does not cover cardiac rehabilitation?

We have affordable options available should your insurance not cover cardiac rehabilitation services or if you have not been diagnosed with heart disease but have risk factors. Our medically supervised exercise program can help you make that transition to heart healthy lifestyle.

What does cardiac rehabilitation involve?

The first step is a comprehensive evaluation. During this initial consultation, you will meet with the cardiac nurse specialist, who will take your medical history and assess your current physical fitness status. This evaluation will help to determine areas of cardiovascular risk as well as any limitations so that a safe and effective exercise prescription can be designed.

Exercise

We also recommend exercising most days of the week to maintain optimal health. Exercise can positively affect your risk factors for cardiovascular disease, reduce the risk of future events, and decrease your overall risk of death from all causes. As a result, a comprehensive exercise program including cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training will be one major focus of your rehabilitation. Don’t worry if you’ve never exercised before. Your team will make sure the program moves at a safe, comfortable pace.

Our current schedule has classes meeting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The program structure is designed for you to exercise during your class time all three days of the week. Please contact us at (918) 579-4959 to inquire about specific class times.

Education We believe that education regarding your particular diagnosis and contributing risk factors is a powerful tool within the rehabilitation process. With this in mind, group education classes are held on Wednesdays to teach a variety of topics associated with cardiovascular disease. They include:

You and your family members will meet with our Behavioral Health Specialist and Dietitian to help you with proper diet and nutrition, weight loss, smoking cessation, stress management and relaxation. We’ll offer support on making lifestyle changes and breaking unhealthy habits to form new ones.

Adjusting to a serious health problem takes time. You may feel depressed or anxious, or have stopped working for several weeks. Depression can make your rehab program more difficult and impact your health and your relationships. Don’t ignore it and discuss it with your support team.

What do I do after I complete cardiac rehabilitation?

After you have completed the cardiac rehabilitation program, you are encouraged to join the facility as a phase 3 rehabilitation member. Remember that exercise is a lifelong commitment, especially for those with cardiac disease, because the benefits are seen only when exercise is performed on a consistent basis.

Cardiac rehab can help rebuild your life physically and emotionally. It will help you get stronger and teach you how to manage your risk factors. However, the important fact to remember is that your chance of having a successful program rests with you. The more dedicated you are to following the program, the better you will do.

Where can I find more information?

HeartHub is the American Heart Institution’s patient portal for information, resources and tools about cardiac disease. Click here for a wealth of information to help you understand and manage your health.

The Mayo Clinic’s Heart Disease Center offers information on heart attacks, congestive heart failure and other heart diseases. Click here to learn more.