Changing your
lifestyle with physical rehabilitation After heart surgery a decade
ago, patients were deemed "cured” and sent home. Yet over time, physicians began
to understand that heart grafts are fragile, surgery can be traumatic, and most
patients need some extra assistance getting back on their feet. The road to
recovery is not so clear cut, with every patient experiencing their own path
back to wellness and some needing continued help from medical professionals.
Today patients get that extra help through Cape Cod Healthcare's 12-week
cardiovascular rehab program. “People approximately double their exercise
capabilities,” said Thomas Sbarra, M.D., cardiologist at Falmouth Hospital.
“They often wind up at a higher level than they had before surgery.”
Under the watchful eyes of cardiologists and nurses, program participants
walk on treadmills, ride stationary bikes and lift weights three times a week.
In education classes they learn about medications, stress management and warning
signs of future heart trouble. They talk about food choices with a nutritionist,
and meet with a psychologist in case of depression or anxiety. Throughout their
rehab, their heart is monitored for extra heartbeats or irregularities.
Health care professionals not only provide a sympathetic ear for these
patients, but teach strategies and skills such as visualization to help them
better care for their bodies and their minds. Both must be healthy before
recovery can be complete.
In the end, patients are often amazed at their progress. “About 95 percent of
rehab participants say it was a lifestyle changing experience," Dr.Sbarra
said. “You learn what you have to do to avoid winding up back in the operating
room.”
Changing your
lifestyle with physical rehabilitation