Video: More Applause For Cardiac Rehab!
I really, really, really encourage patients to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program after heart valve surgery.
As I personally learned during my early recovery, cardiac rehab can greatly enhance the physical and mental well-being of patients while minimizing post-operative issues like cardiac depression.
New medical studies and patient stories (e.g. Charles Harrall) continue to illustrate the positive effects of cardiac rehab programs for patients following a cardiac event - heart attack, CABG or valve surgery. Still, research suggests that cardiac rehabilitation is under-utilized by the patient community.
As another source of encouragement for patients to enroll in cardiac rehab, I just found this interesting video which discusses the benefits of these programs. Simply click the “play” button in the video above and please make sure the sound on your computer is on.
I hope this helps you further understand the benefits of cardiac rehab.
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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October 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Cardiac rehab after my aortic root and aortic valve replacement was absolutely critical to my successful recovery. That said, let me tell you how I fudged on it a little. It was very expensive - $150 for each of 36 sessions (3 times a week for 12 weeks). So after I went three times a week for a couple of weeks, I started going only once a week for the other 10 weeks. During those 10 weeks, I went to the YMCA twice a week and did exactly the same exercises there that I did at cardiac rehab. I admit it was a little risky since I did not have the BP monitoring and all the nurses on hand. I did wear a heart rate monitor (under $100). I saved about $3000. Not the right choice for most people, but it worked well for me.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Hey Sean,
Whoa!
Were you going to cardiac rehab at the Ritz Carlton? That’s a pretty expensive cardiac rehab program.
From what I remember, my cardiac rehab was only $350 for 12 weeks… Total!
Regardless of the cost, we both experienced how beneficial cardiac was for our recovery. I’m glad you figured out an innovative way to save $3,000 during the process. Smart thinking.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
October 29th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I certainly concur. Even if you feel pretty good after surgery, the rehab gives you that extra measure of security knowing that you are exercising under the watchful eye of a trained medical professional. They’ll encourage you and also push you to do a little more each day and you know it is safe to do so. It also gets you out of the house and into a social environment which is fantastic.
Robin
October 30th, 2009 at 11:49 am
The key to my successful recovery, second only to the excellent surgical team, is my on-going physical exercise/rehab program.
After the initial 36 sessions were over, I carried my cardio exercise program over to a health gym and hit it three times a week for 1 - 1/2 hour each session.
My personal opinion is to go further and suggest a cardio rehab physical therapy program is mandantory to achieve full recovery.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’m a 60 year old professor who had my aortic valve replaced eight weeks ago-endocarditis. I worked out five days a week before the operation and made a remarkable recovery. I was opted out of rehab and cleared to go back to the gym five weeks after the operation where I was doing 5-7 miles five days a week on the bike and limited weight training. Then about ten days ago I started feeling lightheaded, anxious, had a tingle in fingers and feet, very low (50-60) heart rate and other assorted symptoms while my blood pressure was excellent. My regular physician believed it was/is a reaction to the 50mg dose of Toprol prescribed by my surgeon and cut the dose to 25 mg. After a few days, I’m still having the same symptoms. Any knowledge of similar situations and suggestions would be appreciated. Communicating and getting action from my various doctors has been my biggest post-op challange!.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I have Mitral valve repair Sept 14th. I was told to attend cardiac rehab, BUT my ins comp said no way. What do I do now?
November 5th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I would have to pay $150.00 a week for 36 weeks