Having a serious heart event or living with a chronic respiratory condition not only slows you down — it can also cause anxiety and concern about the future. Cardiopulmonary therapy, a medically supervised program to improve your cardiac and respiratory health, allows you to be proactive about your health condition and develop a more positive attitude.
“We help patients understand their diagnosis and make lifestyle changes to prevent another heart event or respiratory exacerbation,” says Kim Raines, RN, of Beaufort Memorial Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. “Rehab programs like ours have been shown to reduce depression, improve patients’ overall outlook and improve quality of life.”
Cardiac Rehabilitation: What It Is and Who’s Eligible
Cardiac rehabilitation is for people of all ages who are living with a heart condition or recovering from a cardiac event.
You might benefit from cardiac rehab if you have or have had a:
- Heart attack
- Heart condition, such as coronary artery disease, angina or heart failure
- Heart procedure or surgery
There are several phases to cardiac rehab. Which phases you undergo during your rehabilitation depends on your treatment and recovery goals and overall health. Beginning phases include assessment and education, followed by rehabilitation and long-term monitoring of your cardiac health.
Along with the heart care team at Beaufort Memorial, our cardiac rehab program relies on a team of experts including exercise physiologists, registered nurses, registered dietitians and physical therapists.
Here’s what your cardiac rehab program can include:
- Exercise and physical therapy. With a fitness program designed for your needs and abilities, you’ll be able to increase your daily activity and improve your cardiovascular system.
- Heart-healthy education. You’ll learn about better nutrition, get tips for quitting smoking, and help managing high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors.
- Stress reduction. Identifying and managing stress is an important part of your recovery.
Read More: 5 Simple Steps to Maintain Your Heart Health
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: What It Is and Who’s Eligible
Pulmonary rehabilitation is for people of all ages who live with a respiratory condition or disease. Like cardiac rehab, pulmonary rehab is also delivered in phases depending on your treatment and recovery goals as well as overall health.
Some conditions that benefit from pulmonary rehab include:
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Occupational lung disease
Along with the board-certified specialists on the pulmonary care team at Beaufort Memorial, the pulmonary rehab program relies on a team of experts including nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists and dietitians.
“Pulmonary therapy makes it possible to manage symptoms related to shortness of breath and oxygen deprivation,” Raines says. “Not only does this help you feel better, but it also reduces the anxiety caused by not being able to breathe.”
Here’s what your pulmonary rehab program may include:
- Education and support. Nutritional counseling, help quitting smoking and emotional support help maintain your lung health long-term.
- Exercise and physical therapy. An individualized exercise and physical therapy plan improves overall fitness and builds heart and muscle strength to help the body use oxygen more efficiently.
- Group classes and instruction. Group exercise and education classes provide increased support and wellness.
- Respiratory therapy. Breathing and oxygen exercises are critical to increase pulmonary function. It also helps manage physical and emotional symptoms of respiratory distress.
Read More: Could It Be COPD?
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Combines Both for Better Health
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation combines the benefits of cardiac and pulmonary rehab to help you heal and prevent future health problems.
The cardiopulmonary physical therapists at Beaufort Memorial use cardiac and pulmonary rehab techniques to design a program specifically to meet your needs.
“In patients with heart and lung issues, we see real benefits of cardiopulmonary therapy,” Raines says. “Our experts use in-depth assessments to create education and physical therapy programs that help a patient feel better physically and emotionally.”
The cardiac rehabilitation program at Beaufort Memorial offers an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs. Call 843-522-5635 to learn more.