Cardiac rehabilitation: programs, outcomes, and patient management

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Describe what the cardiac rehabilitation program is.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program, which helps improve the health of those with heart problems. Some programs that are part of cardiac rehabilitation include various training, such as physical exercise, education and healthy living straining, and various forms of counseling to help oneself reduce stress and pursue a healthy, active life. According to a cardiac rehabilitation help website, there are plenty of benefits from such treatments, including helping a person recover from heart attacks or heart surgery, preventing future problems, such as heart problems, hospital stays or even death related problem. Other benefits are to address other health related risk factors, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and other such health concerns.

Some other benefits of such a program are to essentially adopt healthy changes to one's lifestyle, for that is truly what a person who has heart problems needs. Such changes may include, as stated above, a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and proper stress-management techniques. Basically cardiac rehabilitation programs help a person improve his or her life, and a program will always be tailored to fit a person's needs.

Another thing important to mention here is that a person undergoing this treatment will be given a team to help them embark upon a long-term commitment to a change in lifestyle. This team will also include specialists, such as doctors, surgeons, and heart specialists, but will also include other vital components such as nurses, exercise specialists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians or nutritionists, and psychologists or other mental health specialists, according to the website mentioned above. In some instances, a "health manager" may even help a patient, for working with this whole team is a vital part of a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Another benefit of cardiac rehabilitation are, of course, the benefits. As aforementioned, one can truly do a lot and receive a lot of help from the various specialists involved, and therefore many people of all different types can benefit from these kinds of programs. Changes made during this time can help a person not only become healthy again, but also help him or her avoid life threatening illnesses. [1: All information in this section retrieved from: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?" (2011). Retrieved July 5, 2011, from .]

Identify aims of cardiac rehabilitation.

The aims of cardiac rehabilitation were also mentioned above. Overall, these programs can provide a person with a better outlook on life. As far as specifics go, however, the benefits depend upon the individual.

In the Mayo Clinic's Website, one can see the many things that can affect a person, and why cardiac rehabilitation can be so useful. These can include people who have had:

a heart attack, have coronary artery disease, have experienced heart failure, have peripheral arterial disease, have chest pains, cardiomyopathy, or certain congenital heart diseases, have had coronary artery bypass surgery, have had angioplasty and stents, or have had a heart transplant or valve replacements [2: "Mayo Clinic Staff - Cardiac Rehabilitation: Why it's done." (2011). Retrieved July 5, 2011, from . ]

The list seems to be endless, and the aims of rehabilitation is to prevent such events from occurring in the future by tailoring a specific program to a person's unique history. The Mayo Clinic also encourages patients not to be discouraged by anything when pursuing rehabilitation, for anyone can benefit from these programs.

Identify cardiac rehabilitation benefits.

Cardiac rehabilitation benefits are seen over the short-term and the long-term, though the programs are known to be most beneficial in the long-term, so one must truly be committed. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, one must follow this his or her whole life in order to truly have success.

According to the Clinic in around three months, a person should already have developed his or her exercise routine either at home or at a gym, and may continue this routine at a cardiac center as well. Eventually, a person would go off of medical supervision, and utilize his or her education on nutrition, lifestyle and weight loss to advantage.

The most important benefits vary from strength gain, to healthy behaviors such as improving one's diet and cutting bad on bad habits. Due to these reasons, one can decrease one's chances of disease and other heart conditions, and can increase life span by conducting a healthy lifestyle. [3: "Mayo Clinic Staff - Cardiac Rehabilitation: Why it's done." (2011). Retrieved July 5, 2011, from . ]

Identify and describe cardiac rehabilitation phases.

Cardiac rehabilitation phases are generally broken up into four: medical evaluation, physical activity, lifestyle education, and support. However, one note that cardiac rehabilitation can begin while still in the hospital, and as seen above, must continue in the future. Once again, the Mayo Clinic is truly helpful in providing information for a person, by describing the stages and stating that these programs can truly last a few good months, in which a person will work with the best specialists to ensure recovery.

As mentioned above, the first stage is the medical evaluation period. During this stage, a person is evaluated by health care teams on his or her physical abilities, medical limitations, and other such conditions. Furthermore, the team will help the person keep track of progress.

In the second stage, physical activity, a person will find his or her niche activity be experience everything from walking, cycling, rowing and jogging, among other activities, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Lifestyle education is also of vital importance because guidance on diet helps a person's overall health always. When one monitors his or her food intake, such things as reduced fat, cholesterol, sodium, etc. also take place. Thus, it is vital to receive this support in the various cardiac rehabilitation phases. However, it is also vital that during this stage one follows the doctor's orders.

Lastly, the fourth and final stage, support, means adjusting to one's lifestyle. After a serious health problem a person may feel sad and depressed, and even anxious and may feel out of touch with reality. However, cardiac rehabilitation can truly help one get better through these various ways, and keep a person healthy for life. Cardiac rehabilitation can not only help one physically, but also mentally. [4: All information in this section retrieved from the Mayo Clinic: "Mayo Clinic Staff - Cardiac Rehabilitation: Why it's done." (2011). Retrieved July 5, 2011, from . ]

Identify and describe cardiac rehabilitation management elements

These management elements range from physical activity, to stress reduction, to other risk factor management, as well as counseling and other behavior change enablers, and of course, as mentioned above good diet and nutrition. The four stages, if followed, ensure that all of these are followed and a person can truly benefit from a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Describe why it is important to provide patient education regarding cardiac rehabilitation.

It is truly important to provide patient education regarding cardiac rehabilitation. Just as with any rehabilitation program, it is truly vital that a patient is aware of what is happening and, more importantly, why it is happening. This can ensure full patient cooperation, but can also ensure that a person will benefit the most from a program of cardiac rehabilitation.