Val Verde RMC | Keeping Well | Fall/Otoño 2017

CARDIAC REHAB SERVICES Helping your heart heal Val Verde Regional Medical Center will soon be offering Cardiac Rehabilitation services. This multidisciplinary program is important for the treatment and management of acute and chronic cardiac problems. Patients are evaluated and offered an individualized treatment plan, which often includes physical activity, nutrition instruction and information on stress management. Heart patients who participate in a Cardiac Rehab program show significant improvement. Cardiac Rehabilitation is Medicare-approved. HOW IT HELPS Cardiac Rehab is designed for patients who have had coronary bypass surgery, heart attacks, heart surgery, heart failure, stabilized angina, angioplasty, coronary stent placement and peripheral arterial disease. It’s also for patients facing a heart transplant or recovering from one. The goal of Cardiac Rehab services is to help patients make long-term lifestyle changes to help preserve their cardiac function and obtain optimal health. Patients benefit both emotionally and physically from Cardiac Rehab. Health benefits include better overall well-being, improved stamina, reversal of damage to blood vessels in the heart, and weight loss and the ability to control weight. Now, the benefits of Cardiac Rehab are offered right here at home. Call 830-778-3666 for more information. Heart/Corazón 8 Keeping Well/Mantenerse Sano Cardiac rehab IT HELPS YOU FEEL BETTER AS YOUR HEART HEALS I T’S NORMAL to be worried about your return to normal life when you’ve had a heart attack or any type of heart surgery. How much activity is too much— or too little? What kinds of foods should you eat? Can someone teach you how to tamp down your stress after all that you’ve been through? You can find the answers to these and other questions in a cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. WHAT IS CARDIAC REHAB? Cardiac rehab helps people who have heart problems, such as heart failure or angina, recover their health. It typically includes a progressive exercise program, nutrition lessons, education on heart-healthy living and mental health counseling. And it’s all done under medical supervision. Sometimes cardiac rehab begins before someone leaves the hospital. It may continue for several months after the person goes home, either at the hospital or in a community rehab center. Your rehab will be tailored to fit your specific health needs. Exercise will begin slowly and progress as your abilities improve. If you smoke, you may be referred to quit-smoking classes. You’ll get help if you need to lose weight. Cardiac rehab can help reduce your risk for future heart problems, and it can help you lead a more heart-friendly lifestyle. Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health