Cardiac rehabilitation helps you rebuild your life, both physically and emotionally.

It may seem like a lot of time and effort. But as you get stronger and learn how to manage your condition, you'll likely return to a normal routine and enjoy life more.

Cardiac rehabilitation has four main components:

Medical evaluation:
The health care team would assess a patients physical abilities and medical limitations and would explore additional risk factors for such cardiovascular diseases as diabetes or high blood pressure.

They would provide extensive counseling so the patient can understand and manage the disease process. Explanation on appropriate use of prescribed medications would be given.

Psychosocial support:
Any patient recovering from a major illness may experience depression or anxiety, especially if one has stop working for several weeks and may have lost touch with ones social support system.

The team would provide emotional support and psychological care and supply vocational guidance to enable the patient to return to work. Professional counseling will be offered to show you healthy ways to cope.

Physical activity:
A tailor-made exercise program is devised by the physical therapist to improve cardiovascular fitness.

The program may include the use of various pieces of equipment such as a bicycle, treadmill, rowing, upper arm ergometer or stepper. The aim is to raise the patients heart rate to a target level inside the recommended training zone when vital signs are monitored closely during exercise.

	Exercise using a treadmill, bike, rowing machine or walking/jogging track.
	Be monitored for a change in symptoms by a nurse or another health care professional.
	Start slowly, following a safe exercise program that gradually helps you to become stronger.
	Gradually move into a more intensive program that lets you work longer and harder.
	Possibly begin strength training if your doctor says you can.
	Have your heart rate, blood pressure and EKG monitored. This would provide useful information on physical limitations of the patient.

Lifestyle education
This aims at helping the patient to modify risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity and diabetes that predispose a patient to heart diseases. Guidance about diet and nutrition helps the patient to shed excess weight and learn to make healthier food choices.

Advices and support are offered to help quitting unhealthy habits such as smoking. You also learn how to manage pain or fatigue that may accompany your heart condition.

	Recent Heart Attack
	After PTCA or Bypass Surgery
	Heart failure
	Patients with Pacemakers
	Cardiomyopathy
	Patients suffering from angina pectoris
	Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

Many people find that rehab programs are very helpful after getting out of a hospital. They allow people to join a group to exercise and to get special help in making lifestyle changes.

The average Cardiac Rehabilitation Program last about six weeks. While you're still in the hospital, you may begin with non-strenuous activities, such as sitting up in bed, range-of-motion exercises and self-care activities, gradually progress to walking and limited stair climbing.

The early recovery phase follows when you leave the hospital. During this phase, you gradually increase your activity level, under the close supervision of your Cardiac Rehabilitation Program team.

There follows a long-term maintenance program which is a community-based program that aims at establishing a healthy lifestyle that follows for the rest of your life.