Do you know what the number one killer is in Tennessee? It is cardiovascular disease! This includes heart attacks, congestive heart failure, stroke, congenital heart defects, and rheumatic heart disease? This is more than all deaths from the next five leading causes of death combined.

While heart disease affects many of us, there is help available. Cardiac rehabilitation services are designed to assist patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. Cardiac rehab includes exercise, education, and healthier lifestyle.

You can benefit from cardiac rehab if you:

• Have heart disease, such as angina, heart failure,
  or heart attack
• Have had coronary bypass surgery or a balloon
  (PTCA) procedure
• Have had a heart transplant, or are awaiting a
  heart transplant

Most patients with heart disease can benefit from cardiac rehab: no one is too young or too old and women benefit as much as men.

The cardiac rehab team includes:

• Nurses
• Exercise physiologist
• Dietitians
• Psychologists
• Pharmacists
• Doctors (your doctor or cardiologist)
• You! You are an active participant in
  your rehab course

Cardiac rehab services begin in the hospital setting, after the heart event, such as heart attack, heart procedure, or bypass surgery. It continues in the outpatient setting after you leave the hospital. Cardiac rehab services may continue indefinitely as a voluntary exercise maintenance program.

Cardiac rehab has two parts:

• Exercise training--to help you learn how to
  exercise safety, strengthen your muscles, and
  improve your stamina. Your exercise plan will
  be based on your individual ability, needs, and
  doctor's guidelines.
• Education and counseling-- to help you under-
  stand your heart condition and find ways to
  reduce your risk of future heart problems.
  The cardiac rehab team will help you learn to
  cope and adjust to your new lifestyle through
  education, counseling, and support. A free
  support group, Cardi-Action, meets monthly
  and is available to everyone.

Cardiac rehab sessions are small group meetings, held on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, generally for twelve weeks. Weekly educational classes for participants and families address a variety of heart topics and issues. The rehab plan is individually designed for each participant based on specific risk factors, special needs, participant goals, and doctor recommendation.

Joining our cardiac rehab program is easy. Consult your doctor for a referral. For more information call 731-541-6317.