Empowering Health > Cardiac & Stroke > Who Should Participate in Cardiac Rehab?

Doctors usually prescribe cardiac rehab for people who:

Have heart disease, such as angina or heart failure, or are recovering from a heart attack

Have had heart surgery, such as bypass, angioplasty or valve repair or replacement procedures

Have had a heart transplant

Have had a pacemaker insertion such as biventricular or automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator

What can you gain from cardiac rehab?

Learn strategies for modifying risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and inactivity

Establish a healthy diet, which promotes weight control and lowers your cholesterol

Develop a safe exercise routine to continue on your own

If you smoke, you’ll have access to resources to help you conquer your habit

You’ll learn stress-management and relaxation techniques

Exercise therapy helps a patient recover and improve overall cardiac fitness and gives them the ability to resume a normal lifestyle/