Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Cardiac Rehabilitation Your heart needs time to recover from a major trauma like heart attack or heart surgery. A cardiac rehab program can help you get back to normal daily activities.

Video: Cardiac Rehabilitation Physical activity is healthy for your heart—even after you've had a heart attack or bypass surgery. It's important to start out slowly, under the supervision of cardiac rehab specialists. In this video, you'll learn what's involved in cardiac rehab and how it can benefit your health in the long term.

When you’re looking for convenient, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation services, look to North Okaloosa Medical Center.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

An ounce of prevention pays off with a pound of well-being with North Okaloosa Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Our program is designed to provide cardiac patients and their families with education about cardiac fitness and a new beginning to a healthier lifestyle. Special rehabilitative services are designed to help patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. The emphasis is on education and progressive exercise monitored by our Cardiac Rehabilitation team.

Our staff, in conjunction with your physician, supports you throughout the program and provides you with:

• Confidence to perform daily activities
• Education to live a healthier lifestyle
• Motivation and encouragement
• Knowledgeable, professional guidance to help you adapt to a new lifestyle

Who Can Participate?

The Cardiac Rehabilitation program focuses on individuals who have heart disease or who are at high risk for heart disease, including patients who are:

• Recovering from a heart attack
• Recovering from coronary bypass surgery
• Recovering from coronary stent placement
• Recovering from valve surgery
• Recovering from a heart or lung transplant
• Living with stable angina

With your physician’s referral, our staff will establish a personalized program tailored to meet your needs and capabilities.

What Are the Benefits?

Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program can help you:

• Reduce the risks of future heart problems
• Feel better, faster
• Increase activity levels, strength and stamina
• Improve energy
• Reduce stress
• Reduce disability
• Reduce tobacco usage
• Reduce body fat
• Improve blood cholesterol levels

What Can I Expect?

The outpatient component of the program generally begins when the patient is discharged from the hospital. A registered nurse and an exercise specialist will monitor this phase, which combines education, counseling and behavior changes. The eight- to 12-week phase usually consists of three exercise sessions per week that last approximately 60 minutes each. The program is customized for each specific patient’s needs and requirements.

How Can I Get Started?

The first step is to schedule an appointment with your physician to determine if you are eligible for the program. A physician referral is required to participate in North Okaloosa Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

If you think you could benefit from the Cardiac Rehabilitation program, talk to your doctor. Then call 850-682-2475 (option 2) for more information.