Cardiac Rehabilitation: Physical Therapy After a Heart Attack

What is cardiac physical therapy?

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average age for a first heart attack in the United States is 65.6 years for men and 72.0 years for women.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a program to help you recover from a heart attack and Improve your quality of life.. This program is critical for minimizing your chances of having another heart attack. It often starts while you’re in the hospital or shortly after you leave.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anybody who has had a heart problem, like a heart attack, can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. Most programs last about 3 months, but they can last anywhere from 2 to 8 months.

A cardiac rehabilitation program is about rehabilitation.

• Exercise counseling and training.
• Risk factors are managed in education.
• Counseling to reduce stress.

A physical therapist usually leads the physical activity portion of a cardiac rehabilitation program. A 2014 review suggests the aim of the program is to improve your exercise capacity and quality of life in the short term and long term.

Staying physically active after a heart attack is important for keeping your heart strong. Research from 2018 has found that increased physical activity in the first year after a heart attack is related to a reduced chance of death.

A physical therapist can help assess your current fitness levels and create a detailed exercise program for you to improve your fitness.

What are the benefits of cardiac physical therapy?

Attending a cardiac rehabilitation program gives you the best chance to avoid a future heart attack and Improve your quality of life..

Research has shown that cardiac rehabilitation can be done.

• improve your health-related quality of life and functional capacity
• lower your risk of future heart attack
• improve your lung capacity
• Improve your heart health.
• Your heart and body are strengthened.
• help you maintain a moderate body weight
• improve your blood pressure
• improve your mental health
• Improve your ability to work.
• Reduce your body pain.
• Help reduce stress.
• Improve your endurance and energy.
• Improve your lifestyle habits.

What can you expect during cardiac physical therapy?

Cardiac rehabilitation can start after you leave the hospital. Each program is designed for you.

A 2016 review indicates that the physical activity program generally consists of 36 sessions over 12 weeks, but some programs can be longer.

A physical therapist will assess your ability with a physical exam and fitness tests at the start of your rehabilitation. They will design a program that increases in intensity over time.

According to 2020 guidelines, your physical therapy may include:

• Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart.
• Counseling to improve lifestyles.
• resistance training to strengthen your bones and muscles
• To improve your breathing mechanics.
• Flexibility and balance training.

While you are in the hospital, your physical therapist can help you with exercises that are not strenuous. These exercises aim to improve range of motion and prevent deconditioning from extended bed rest.

A typical exercise session after leaving the hospital might include riding an exercise bike, jogging, or using other cardiovascular fitness. Your physical therapist will monitor your vital signs while you exercise to see how your body responds.

What are the risks of cardiac physical therapy?

Some people may not make good candidates for the exercise portion of cardiac rehabilitation, such as people with unstable angina. Your doctor can help you figure out if you have a condition that may preclude you from exercise.

Programs that include intensive aerobic exercise and resistance training are considered safe by many leading health authorities.

Serious risks are very rare. A 2006 study from France found that the rate of cardiac arrest was 1.3 per million hours of exercise.

A small 2017 study of people who received heart rhythm management devices found that those who underwent cardiac rehabilitation had fewer complications than those who didn’t.

What do I need to know before I start cardiac rehabilitation?

Your doctor can refer you to Cardiac Rehabilitation. Your doctor can tell you what your program will include.

It is a good idea to make sure your insurance policy covers treatment before you start. Some people may not be covered, such as those who have received a heart rhythm management device.

The AHA says that Medicare and most other insurance providers offer reimbursement for cardiac rehabilitation for treating heart attacks. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Medicare covers 36 supervised sessions over 12 weeks.

What is the outlook after cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation gives you the best chance to prevent another heart attack.

• A 2021 review indicates that participants may have a 13 percent lower chance of having another heart attack.
• A 2016 study found that in a group of 4,929 people who experienced heart attacks, people who underwent cardiac rehabilitation lived significantly longer.
• Studies have found that cardiac rehabilitation decreases your chances of dying in the 5 years after a cardiac event from any cause by about 32 percent.

Cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover from a heart attack.