Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

Regular participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation will help you reach your optimum functional capacity while helping you reduce your risk of further cardiac events. Cardiac Rehabilitation also facilitates in alleviating current cardiac symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, chest pain. Participation can also aid in the control of diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, and stress.

There are three phases to Schneck Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program:

• Phase I is the continued care you receive while in the hospital. It begins when you enter the hospital and lasts until you are discharged.

• Phase II begins two to four weeks after hospitalization. During exercise classes your electrocardiogram, heart rate, and blood pressure will be monitored while you use a variety of equipment that will help with upper and lower body conditioning. These classes will meet three times a week for eighteen to thirty-six visits.

• Phase III is Cardiac Wellness and serves as a health maintenance exercise program. It offers you the opportunity to take advantage of continuing with a medically supervised exercise program in a group setting.

Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

You will learn breathing techniques to help you cope with shortness of breath. Additionally, you will begin breath retraining along with activity training. This helps recondition your muscles to relieve shortness of breath and to reduce fatigue levels.

There are many benefits of receiving pulmonary rehabilitation, including:

• Improved quality of life

• Reduced respiratory symptoms

• Increased ability to perform activities of daily living

• Better understanding of your disease process

• Improved self-esteem

• Reduced hospitalizations, emergency room and physician visits

• Learning your physical limitations

• Learning the importance of reconditioning exercise

• Reduced health care expenses related to breathing

• Support from staff and other patients in group

Who needs pulmonary rehabilitation?

Individuals diagnosed with:

• COPD

• Emphysema

• Chronic Asthma

• Chronic Bronchitis

• Cystic Fibrosis

• Bronchiectasis

• Black Lung

• Pneumoconiosis due to other inorganic dust

• Sarcoidosis

• Pneumonectomy or Lobectomy

• Lung Cancer

• Other Breathing Difficulties

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Goals:

• Control and alleviate, as much as possible, the symptoms and complications of pulmonary impairment.

• Condition patients to achieve optimal capacity to carry out everyday living activities and increase exercise tolerance.

• Decrease anxiety and depression and improve quality of life.

• Promote independence and self-reliance as well as facilitate returning to work.

• Reduce exacerbations and hospitalizations.