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What is Cardiac Rehabilitation and How it Improves Quality of Life

May 15, 2020 0 Comment Category: Foothill Heights

Cardiac rehabilitation is a kind of specialized therapy that is recommended to those patients who experience acute or chronic heart disease. It helps to reduce the risk of serious complications and improves the quality of life in the individual.

Generally, physicians recommend cardiac rehabilitation in a skilled nursing home to people who are recovering from a serious heart issue, such as a heart attack or heart failure or have undergone an angioplasty or heart surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation programs include supervised exercise and assistance with following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Skilled nursing homes also help their residents with managing stress, which helps to reduce the risk factors that could lead to heart-related problems.

Skilled nursing homes have qualified and experienced rehab professionals to help you manage your condition and recover quickly. This includes doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dieticians, nutritionists, and social workers. To get started with cardiac rehabilitation, the professionals will consider your condition and prepare a customized program for you. This assures that you can benefit the most with the therapy.

As per the American Heart Association, cardiac rehabilitation can help people of all ages who have experienced an ongoing or severe heart condition. This includes a heart attack, a heart-related condition like angina, coronary artery disease, or heart failure, or heart surgery, such as percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass, valve replacement, balloon angioplasty, or surgery to implant pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator.

Medicare and all major insurance providers provide cover for cardiac rehabilitation. However, certain conditions may apply to become eligible for the coverage.

How Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Quality of Life

Cardiac rehabilitation can have many significant positive effects on your quality of life. For instance, it is found that cardiac rehab helps to reduce mortality rates from heart disease. The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation says, “people who complete a cardiac rehabilitation program can increase their life expectancy by up to five years.”

It is also seen that cardiac rehabilitation in skilled nursing homes reduces the risk of re-hospitalization due to heart-related disorders. Rehab programs include physical training as well as medication management along with guidance on making healthier lifestyle choices. This works to improve your overall heart health.

Cardiac rehabilitation also helps to ease the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and their negative impact on your day-to-day life. For instance, following the regular exercise routine will boost your heart’s ability to pump blood. This helps to maintain the supply of oxygen-rich blood to your body, which alleviates many health complications like breathlessness or chest pain. You will also feel less anxious after a cardiac rehab program, and become more confident about taking care of your health.