Cardiac Rehab is a treatment program for patients diagnosed with heart disease to recover faster and return to their normal pace of life. It teaches the patient how to live with heart disease, and how to bring about a change in lifestyle and follow the right path to a healthy and strong heart.

Cardiovascular diseases cause 50 % of deaths in the U.S.A. Coronary Heart disease affects 13.5 million Americans. Genetic disposition, sedentary lifestyle, misguided eating habits and lack of exercise are the root causes of this problem. Cardiac Rehab tries not only medical treatment but also a complete overhauling of lifestyle to fight heart disease.

The Cardiac Rehab program aims at improving each patient's health and long-term prognosis. It may be initiated after a coronary event (heart attack, hospitalization, heart failure) or a heart procedure (angioplasty, stent, surgery). A team of doctors, nurses, counselors and therapists design a suitable Cardiac Rehab program for each patient after detailed testing and examination.

There are usually three to four phases in a Cardiac Rehab program. Phase one begins when the patient is first hospitalized recovering from a heart condition or surgery. It is initiated in the hospital and may continue throughout the stay. Its goal is to deter the negative effects of bed rest, and bring about lifestyle changes that will minimize the chancres of a relapse in the heart condition. For example, at first you have to learn how to take care of yourself (grooming, bath etc), then find out how much exercise you can handle and start a weight training program.

Phase two is a major outpatient program started soon after discharge from the hospital. It lasts typically for 36 visits to the hospital or Rehab center. To start the exercise regimen, the patient must undergo a level treadmill test, so an exercise regimen will be tailored according to his need and condition. The entire program consists of starting on a strict exercise program and participation in group discussions, as well as individual counseling. Phase 2 Cardiac Rehab is reimbursed through Medicare and most other insurance agencies.

The program involves close monitoring of the patient's initial exercise regimen, directing his return to work and leisure activities, developing a safe home exercise program, and providing counseling to treat any depression or to ease the change to a new lifestyle. Throughout Phase 2, the patient's heart condition is monitored through Electro Cardiogram tests (ECG) on a weekly basis. High-risk patients are watched even more closely.

On completion of Phase two of the Rehab, the patient and referring doctor receive a report card, showing a comparison of several parameters tested during those 36 visits to the Rehab center. This includes body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, exercise capacity, and cholesterol level, and enables the physician to judge the results of phase 2 and the current health status of the patient.

Phase 3 is a maintenance program. It is started after judging phase two. Phase 2 patients may be referred to Phase 3 for continued supervision. Enrollment in phase 3 may not require a physician's referral.

Research has proved that Cardiac Rehab has resulted in the following benefits--

reduced risk of heart attack, decreased severity of angina, reduced need for hospitalization, decreased blood pressure, the ability to exercise longer, a lower cholesterol triglyceride level and decreased depression and anxiety.

The goal of Rehab is to return a patient of heart disease to a normal and healthy lifestyle, sticking to lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and alcohol and following strict exercise regimes. This will ultimately determine the success of the Rehab program.