Each year 735,000 people experience a heart attack in the United States and 795,000 will suffer from a stroke[1]. Even with today’s medical technology & knowledge, heart attacks remain the number one cause of death; while strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in America[2].
If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack or stroke it is imperative to begin cardiac rehabilitation as soon as your physician has cleared you to do so.
What Does Cardiac Rehab Involve?
A cardiac rehab team will most likely include your physician, cardiologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, speech therapist, and possibly an in-home healthcare professional. Cardiac rehab also involves a long-term commitment to bring your strength and health back.
Physical therapy plays an imperative role in getting your life back and hopefully making positive changes in your life that will decrease your risk of another heart attack or stroke. Physical Therapists evaluate your needs, strengths and weaknesses; then create a rehabilitation routine specific to your recovery.
A typical cardiac rehab program may include:
- Aerobic Exercises – 3-5 days per week for time periods of 20-45 minutes; depending upon your ability and specific heart health
- Muscle Strengthening Exercises – typically 2-3 times per week, guided by a professional in an exercise regimen to condition and strengthen your muscles
- Heart Healthy Meals – it is very important to make changes in your diet. Learn how to prepare meals that will help keep or get you to a healthy weight and help control cholesterol levels
- Relearning Basic Life Skills – depending upon what impact your heart attack or stroke has had on your motor skills and what damage has occurred, you can relearn basic life skills that may have been lost. They include working on fine and gross motor skills such as holding utensils to feed yourself, bathing, dressing yourself & more.
Live Your Life Physical Therapy utilizes evidence based interventions and the latest technology when working with a client on cardiac rehabilitation. Whether you have had a cardiac scare with a mild heart attack or stroke, you deserve to get strong and healthy again to live your life to the fullest.
Live Your Life HEART HEALTHY and strong!
Dr. Eva Norman
President & Founder
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Live Your Life Physical Therapy, LLC
[1] CDC – Heart Disease Facts
[2] CDC – Leading Causes of Death
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