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Cardiac rehab

If you've had a heart problem or heart surgery, you may be focused on getting back to your regular activities and improving your heart health. At Iredell Health System, our medically supervised cardiac rehabilitation program can help you do those things safely.

Our cardiopulmonary rehab team will work closely with you and your physician to tailor cardiac rehab therapy to your individual needs. Your rehab team may include physicians, registered nurses, a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a clinical exercise physiologist, a dietician, a licensed counselor and others. They'll keep your personal physician informed of your progress through regular reports, including vital signs, symptoms and exercise responses.

Here's one fact: Cardiac rehab can reduce your risk of a second heart attack.
7 facts & myths about cardiac rehabilitation. Learn the facts.

Reviewed 9/7/2022

7 FACTS & MYTHS ABOUT CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Cardiac rehabilitation is a good idea for almost anyone who's had a heart event, surgery or procedure. Cardiac rehab teaches you how to avoid further heart problems.

Cardiac rehab has proven health benefits. Unfortunately, many people who are eligible for the program don't take part.

Read up on some of the myths and facts about cardiac rehab below. If you think you or a family member might benefit, ask your doctor about the program.

FACT: You need a referral from your doctor for cardiac rehab.

You may benefit from a referral to cardiac rehab if you’ve experienced one or more of the following:

  • Heart attack.
  • Heart condition such as coronary artery disease, angina or heart failure.
  • Heart procedure or surgery such as angioplasty, valve replacement or bypass surgery.

If your doctor hasn’t brought up cardiac rehab, ask about it at your next visit.

MYTH: Health insurance doesn’t usually cover cardiac rehab.

Medicare and most other insurance providers pay for cardiac rehab for people who are eligible for it. If you're a candidate for rehab, talk to your medical team and your insurance provider to find out if it's covered.

FACT: Regular exercise is an important part of cardiac rehab.

A cardiac rehab specialist will design a physical activity program tailored to your abilities. You will be closely monitored throughout to make sure your heart is handling the load.

Other vital parts of cardiac rehab include:

  • Heart-healthy eating.
  • Stress reduction.
  • Quitting smoking.
  • Drug therapy.

MYTH: You can be too old to benefit from cardiac rehab.

Cardiac rehab is about more than living longer. It’s about living a high-quality life right now. Ask your doctor how cardiac rehab can be customized to your age and abilities.

FACT: The main goal of cardiac rehab is to help keep you from developing or dying from heart problems.

Cardiac rehab can:

  • Lower the risk for a second heart attack or surgery.
  • Reduce your overall risk of dying or having a future cardiac event.
  • Help you manage risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • Help you lose weight.
  • Lessen chest pain.

MYTH: Cardiac rehab is only about improving physical health.

In addition to helping your body, cardiac rehab will also help you address the emotional aspects of having a heart problem or recovering after surgery. Your rehab team may include specialists like mental health professionals or social workers who focus specifically on this.

MYTH: Cardiac rehab is something you’ll do for the rest of your life.

Though the exact program will vary according to your needs, cardiac rehab usually lasts around three months, with sessions occurring several times a week.

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Visit our Heart Health topic center to learn more about taking care of your heart.

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How can cardiac rehab help you?

Cardiac rehab has many benefits. For instance, it can:

  • Decrease your chances of having another heart attack or cardiovascular event by improving heart disease risk factors.
  • Improve how your heart and lungs work through a customized exercise program.
  • Show you how to increase physical activity safely and effectively.
  • Teach you and your family about heart disease, treatments, medications and risk factors.
  • Help you recognize heart disease signs and symptoms and know when to seek medical treatment.
  • Decrease anxiety, fear and depression through counseling and group support.
  • Help you return to work.

Who can participate in cardiac rehab?

You may be a candidate for cardiac rehab if you've been diagnosed with heart attack, congestive heart failure or stable angina. You may also be a candidate if you've had a heart procedure, such as angioplasty and/or coronary stent placement, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplant, or a valve replacement or repair.

What happens in cardiac rehab?

Your rehab therapy will address all the aspects of your life that affected by heart disease.

Cardiac rehab includes:

Exercise that is good for your heart and lungs. Our gym is equipped with treadmills, upper-body cycles, stationary bikes, rowing machines and recumbent bikes. Your exercise is medically supervised. Continuous telemetry monitoring during each fitness session also helps ensure your safety.

Heart-healthy education. You and your family will receive information about exercise, nutrition, medications, heart anatomy and stress.

Nutrition consultation. You'll learn to eat well, which can help with managing weight and improving blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Stress management and mental health support. You will learn techniques to address stress and receive a consultation to assist in managing anxiety, fear and depression.

Outpatient cardiac rehab class schedules

We offer an 18-week (36 sessions) cardiac rehab program, as well as a maintenance program for those who have completed rehab.

Once you choose a class, those class days and times are reserved for you. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your class begins.

You have a choice of attending classes either two or three days each week.

Three classes per week:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Class times: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 or 11:30 AM; 1:30 or 4:00 PM

Two classes per week:

Monday and Wednesday
Class times: 8:00 AM

Start your cardiac rehab journey

You will need a physician referral to participate in cardiac rehab.

A new participant orientation is offered with no obligation to enroll. If you're interested, we will schedule you for an orientation, and you will have the opportunity to decide whether to continue cardiac rehab.

Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances provide reimbursement for cardiac rehab.

To learn more, please call 704.878.4558 or email lisa.warren@iredellhealth.org.