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Health Tips

Healing Your Heart

If you are recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or have heart disease, this information is for you. “You play a key role in your recovery. Doctors, nurses, therapists and other health professionals can help you manage your condition,” states Marjorie Clifford, Cardiology Manager ar Delta Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehab.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

It’s a program of health education, training and counseling to help you build a heart-healthy lifestyle. Your physician and other health-care professionals will work with you to plan your cardiac rehab program. It may be an established program at a cardiac rehab center. Or you may receive similar training in a less-structured cardiac rehab program. Either way, cardiac rehab serves the same purpose to help you return to the fullest life possible.

Cardiac Rehab can benefit almost anyone with a heart condition.

It can help you if:

1.You’ve had a heart attack or related chest pain.
2.You have heart disease, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure.
3.You’ve had heart surgery or another heart procedure.

It has several goals. These are to help you:

1.Feel better faster
2.Reduce your risks of future heart problems
3.Handle emotional reactions to having a heart condition
4.Manage other stresses
5.Return to your usual activities as fully as possible
6.Live a longer, fuller life

Building a healthy lifestyle is the central focus of cardiac rehab. The program will help you exercise safely and regularly, eat a healthy diet and adopt other healthy habits. These improve your general health and are a must for a healthier heart.

Cardiac rehab usually takes place in three phases:

1.Inpatient Phase- This phase takes place in the hospital following surgery, a heart attack or another heart problem. It begins when your condition has become stable. In this phase, you’ll get help to get out of bed and begin moving around as soon as possible and start to learn about your heart condition and how to manage it.

2.Outpatient Phase- This phase begins shortly after you leave the hospital. It can last up to a few months. You’ll get training on what exercises to do, how much to do and how to do them correctly. You’ll also receive information on other ways to reduce your risk for heart problems.

3.Maintenance Phase- For several more months, you’ll build on what you’ve learned
about exercise and other ways to help prevent heart problems. Then, with your new knowledge and skills, you’ll be ready to continue a heart-healthy lifestyle on your own for the rest of your life.

“Cardiac Rehab is sometimes appropriate when several risk factors are present tohelp you prevent heart problems from developing,” says Clifford.

Learn the facts about your heart condition.

Here are some common heart conditions:

Coronary Artery Disease- This develops when fatty material builds up inside coronary arteries ( blood vessels leading to the heart). This narrowing of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. Over time, the arteries can close up completely. Or a blood clot can get in the narrowed space. This keeps the heart from getting the blood it needs. Heart damage can result.

High Blood Pressure- This forces the heart to work harder than it should. And it can damage blood vessels. High blood pressure may come from blood vessels being too narrow- there is less space for the blood to pass through, too full- blood volume may be too high. High blood pressure increases the risk of coronary artery disease and other heart problems.

Heart Failure- This occurs when the heart’s pumping ability has been weakened. The heart cannot supply the body with all the blood it needs. When heart failure also causes fluid buildup in the lungs and other body tissues (such as in the legs and ankles), the condition is called “congestive heart failure.” Heart failure can result from coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Other possible causes include heart valve diseases, abnormal heart rhythms, and problems with the heart muscle itself.

Diagnosing heart conditions.

Your Health-care provider may recommend tests to learn about your condition(s), help decide on treatment and monitor your progress. Some common tests include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)- small sensoring devices are placed on your chest to record the heart’s electrical activity.

Angiogram (a type of cardiac catheterization)- a catheter (thin tube) is inserted into a coronary artery to show a picture of the artery on a special TV screen.

Exercise StressTesting- special devices measure your heartbeat, breathing rate and blood pressure while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike.

Scans- ultrasound or other special cameras are used to show a picture of your heart.

Treating heart conditions.

Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes and medications.

Special procedures are sometimes necessary. Two types are:

Angioplasty- (a type of caridac catheterization)- a catheter with a balloon tip is inserted into a coronary artery to open up a blocked section.

Bypass Surgery- surgery is used to reroute blood around a blocked artery.

Ask your healthcare provider for details.

Delta Regional Medical Center is a proud sponsor of Mended Hearts, Inc. Mended Hearts is an international, non-profit, self-help organization for those who have had any heart problems, their families, friends and interested persons. Mended Hearts meets every second Thursday in the One East Conference Room at Delta Regional Medical Center 6:00 p.m. For more information about Mended Hearts, please call the Community Development Office at 334-2321.

This healthcare message brought to you courtesy of Delta Regional Medical Center. For additional information about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Delta Regional Medical Center, call 334-7628.