Cardiac Rehabilitation Services

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at UPMC offers expert care to help you safely resume your daily activities after a cardiac event or procedure. Our program offers the guidance and support you need to get stronger, stay active, and feel confident throughout your recovery and beyond.

What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation, also known as cardiac rehab, is an outpatient, physician-prescribed exercise program designed for people who have had a cardiac event or procedure. Cardiac rehab helps you:

• Strengthen your heart muscle.
• Increase your energy.
• Lose excess weight and maintain a healthy weight.

It has physical, emotional and psychological benefits and can help reduce the chances of a second heart attack.

What are the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation?

Evidence shows that patients who attend 18-24 cardiac rehabilitation sessions receive the most benefits. Positive changes include:

• Increased exercise and activity tolerance.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Reduced blood cholesterol.
• Reduced body fat.
• Fewer hospitalizations.
• An enhanced sense of well-being.
• Greater self-confidence.
• Reduced anxiety.
• A better outlook on life.

What conditions do you treat?

Cardiac rehab is recommended for people recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery. The program aims to help people recover and regain control of their health.

Who’s eligible for cardiac rehabilitation?

Anyone with a history of heart problems is eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. You may benefit from this program if you have had any of the following conditions:

• Angina.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Heart failure.
• Heart attack.
• Heart surgery.
• Heart or lung transplant.

What Cardiac Rehabilitation Services Do You Offer?

Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to help improve the health of your heart. You will partner with a team of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and nutritionists throughout the program. Some of the activities involved in the program include:

Exercise

Exercise is a vital part of the rehab program. It aims to get your heart pumping efficiently. You will be closely monitored while performing an exercise program customized for your unique needs.

For example, your exercise program might include resistance training and the use of equipment, including:

• Stationary bicycles.
• Arm ergometry
• Treadmills
• Steps
• Arm weights
• Pulleys

Education

You will learn how to manage risk factors, the importance of heart-healthy nutrition, and how to overcome challenges that affect heart health.

Counseling

People with heart problems often experience a lot of stress. Stress can negatively impact your heart's health, so counseling is very important as a means for dealing with stress, tension, and anxiety.

What Can I Expect From Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehab typically lasts one hour, three days a week. The program can last 6-12 weeks, depending on your needs.

The program has three phases:

• Phase One: Phase One starts at the hospital while you are hospitalized. During this phase, you will learn to manage risk factors, identify heart attack symptoms, perform daily weight checks, and follow exercise guidelines.
• Phase Two: Phase Two begins immediately after you have been discharged from the hospital. Your doctor will schedule several visits to the cardiac rehabilitation department to monitor how your heart responds to various exercises and physical activities.
• Phase Three: Phase Three is the last stage of the program. It requires you to visit the cardiac department for supervised, non-monitored activities. At the end of the phase, your doctor will give you home exercise guidelines to follow.

Before your visit

To prepare for your visit, you will be asked to provide:

• Name, address, and contact phone number.
• Insurance information.
• Relevant medical records and test results.
• A referral, if required by your health insurance company.

If you get a referral from your primary care doctor or another physician, they may be able to provide your test results and medical records to our team.

During your visit

At your first visit, our professional staff of nurses and exercise physiologists will complete a:

• Detailed interview.
• Brief physical exam.
• Comprehensive review of your medical history.

They will then design an individualized exercise and heart-health improvement plan to help you meet your goals.

To increase cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, they will train you to exercise on the equipment that is appropriate for you, such as:

• Treadmills.
• Bikes.
• Rowers.
• NuStep® machines.
• Upper body cycles.
• Weights.

During your one-hour cardiac rehab appointment, you will be on a continuous EKG monitor and have your blood pressure checked while exercising.

In addition, your cardiac rehab team will meet with you to discuss your signs and symptoms and review your progress.

After your treatment

You will have follow-up appointments with your cardiac specialists to check how your cardiac rehabilitation program works. You should contact your doctor if:

• You have questions about your treatment plan or medications.
• Your symptoms get worse or do not improve as expected.
• You have any other concerns about your condition.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-01.