Cardiac Rehabilitation - How Well It Works
The many benefits of cardiac rehab include:
- A reduced risk of major heart problems and death after a heart attack for those who participate in a cardiac rehab program that includes exercise.
- Decreased severity of angina and decreased need for medicines to control angina.
- Reduced need for hospital stays because of heart problems. Costs for doctor visits and hospital stays are reduced for those who participate in cardiac rehab. Visits to the emergency room are also reduced.
- Decreased blood pressure.
- Reduced shortness of breath and less fatigue in people with heart failure.
- Ability to exercise longer.
- Improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Reduced emotional stress, depression, and anxiety.
Cardiac rehab can increase the quality of your life by improving your health overall; helping you lose weight, if necessary; reducing depression, stress, and anxiety; and helping to increase your self-esteem.
Can You Reverse Heart Disease?
Imagine that you’ve just left your cardiologist’s office. He’s told you that you have to make some changes. Your blood pressure is way over the limit at 170 over 100 and your LDL cholesterol (that’s the “bad” kind) is hovering right around 200. He conducted an exercise cardiac stress test, putting you on the treadmill and increasing the speed and elevation periodically while monitoring your heart -- and he didn’t like the results. The diagnosis: coronary artery disease (CAD). Besides surgery or...
Read the Can You Reverse Heart Disease? article > >
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
