Living with Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country, over a half million people die every year from the disease. But with a three-step rehabilitation process, many people are able to take steps every day to improve heart health. With a mixture of education, exercise, and support it is possible to properly recover from heart attacks or heart surgery.
Education is vital to help you and your family and friends understand the causes and risks associated with coronary heart disease. It is important to modify your lifestyle to reduce risk factors. Things, like stopping smoking, losing weight, reducing stress and lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol, can help to improve the strength of your heart. Coronary heart disease is inherited, so it is vital for children and relatives of patients to also alter their lifestyles to decrease their risk of developing the disease.
Exercising regularly is an important part of living with heart disease. Exercise strengthens your heart and lessens the risk and severity of another heart attack occurring. Every patient exercises at a different level depending on factors such as their medical history and personal goals. A physical therapist will be able to prescribe an exercise regime that best fits your needs and lifestyle. Exercises usually need to be supervised but some home exercise programs are recommended too. Supervision allows for heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiograms to be monitored and tested throughout the workout.
Support is the most important part of cardiac rehabilitation. Family and friends can help by eating well and exercising along with the patient. Having a support system offers encouragement and helps the patient to not feel alone in their fight. Since coronary heart disease is hereditary, it will be important for the family to change their lifestyles as well, so make it a joint effort.
While heart attacks and heart disease are scary it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce potential risk factors. With over 100,000 people participating in cardiac rehab in America each year, getting back on your feet after a heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, hypertension or any other heart-related problem is possible with some hard work and dedication.
