Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a supervised program that uses
exercise, education, and support to help people recover from a heart attack,
heart surgery, or other heart problems. Cardiac rehab programs are medically
supervised and individually designed based on a person's needs and overall
health.
A rehab program helps people:
- Reduce the risk of dying of heart
disease.
- Reduce cardiac risk factors, such as increased weight,
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
- Control
symptoms of heart disease.
- Be more active.
- Improve
their quality of life.
- Return to their usual activities, including
work.
Last Revised:
September 27, 2012
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & John A. McPherson, MD, FACC, FSCAI - Cardiology