Advances in heart medications, procedures and surgeries can make an ailing heart healthy again. But, unfortunately, underlying factors causing heart illnesses in the first place often remain at work despite state-of-the-art technology and treatments.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to enhance your quality of life if you suffer a heart attack, undergo bypass surgery or experience other heart problems. Individually designed to meet your medical needs, it includes exercise, lifestyle changes, education and emotional support.

"The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to help you return to and maintain your best possible physical and emotional condition," says Billy A.F. Hammond, MD, FACC, cardiologist on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center's Heart Institute. "Your individualized program may begin while you are still in the hospital recovering from a heart episode, soon after leaving the hospital or at any other time to help prevent future heart problems."

American Heart Association® research indicates that patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation following a heart attack can reduce their risk of a fatal heart attack by up to 25 percent. Further, it can decrease hospitalizations related to heart problems, lower blood pressure, reduce shortness of breath and fatigue, lessen the need for medication to control angina and more.

Cardiac rehabilitation begins with an evaluation of your overall health. Doctors, nurse specialists, registered dietitians, physical therapists and clinical exercise physiologists closely follow your progress and work with you to develop a program that fits your specific health situation and goals. You'll get help with heart-healthy eating habits, quitting smoking, managing the stress and depression that often follow a heart attack or surgery, and getting back to your normal routine. By the end of the program, you'll be ready to maintain a healthier lifestyle on your own.

"Almost everyone who has a heart disease problem can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation," says Hammond. "How fast you recover depends on your age, your commitment to the program and whether you have other health conditions working against you."

From Weekly Health Page: Feb. 11, 2007