Why Exercise Is An Important Component Of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Very few people are aware that exercise plays a crucial role in helping heart patients return to their normal activities effectively. Hence, most people refrain from physical exercise, which can lead to a delay in their recovery process.
It is normal to fear any kind of activity after people have suffered a heart attack, say experts, but they insist that it is imperative to stay informed in such a condition to avoid complications.
Exercising after a heart issue has multiple proven benefits. However, it is important to know which exercises are beneficial and how to go about them in a safe way. This is where cardiac rehab steps in.
Cardiac rehabilitation in a nutshell
Cardiac rehab is a specialized program that consists of multiple treatments carried out by skilled and experienced health personnel who strive to make the heart stronger after a disease or attack. The program includes various therapies like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, nutritional guidance, heart health education, and constant support to the patient as well as their family members for a smoother and quicker recovery.
The program can last for a couple of months, depending on the patient’s condition and progress.
The conditions for which cardiac rehab is very effective are:
– Heart attack.
– Heart failure.
– Use of a ventricular assist device.
– Stable angina.
– Heart transplant
– Valve replacement.
– Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
– Coronary artery angioplasty with or without a stent.
– Peripheral artery disease.
Several studies have indicated that cardiac rehab reduced:
– Cardiovascular death risk by 58%.
– Heart attack risk by 30%.
– The risk of stroke by 60%.
– Depression symptoms by 63%.
Why is exercise an important part of cardiac rehabilitation
Let’s look into the multiple reasons why exercises are an important component of cardiac rehab and why experts insist on consistency and the right intensity.
1-Physical activity strengthens the heart
If the physical exercise is done consistently and in the correct and moderate way, it makes the heart stronger. The reason is that it enhances the capacity of the heart muscle to pump blood properly to the lungs and across the body. This leads to an improvement in the oxygen levels. Along with the oxygen levels, the capillaries, which are the body’s tiniest vessels, become broader, and they can deliver more oxygen to body parts and transport waste material
2-Physical activity reduces coronary heart disease risk factors
In coronary heart diseases, there is the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which are important vessels used by the body to carry blood full of oxygen to the heart. The plaque makes the arteries narrow and cuts down the blood supply to the heart and exposing people to the danger of developing coronary heart disease.
There are also risk factors such as blood pressure, low levels of HDL, otherwise the good cholesterol, weight gain, lack of exercise, high blood sugar, and creatinine that also contribute to the tendency of having coronary heart disease.. Physical exercise helps control all these factors and improve heart health.
3-Physical activity reduces the chances of another heart attack
If people have had a heart attack before, physical exercise in the form of aerobic activity can significantly reduce the chances of another attack. But it is very vital to do aerobic exercises in the presence of a trained therapist and after consultation with the doctor.
4-Physical exercise improves mental and emotional health
Physical exercise releases the happy hormones and reduces the secretion of cortisol in the body. Heart patients have shown enhanced cognitive abilities after physical training with experts. All this improves the overall health of the patient in terms of independence in carrying out daily tasks and reduces the risk of any heart-related complications. Patients feel more energetic, positive, eat and sleep better, and develop a healthy daily routine.
Common forms of cardiac rehab exercises
- Treadmill walking or cycling at controlled intensities
- Light resistance training to rebuild muscle tone
- Flexibility and stretching routines to improve mobility
- Breathing and relaxation exercises to enhance endurance
- Supervision ensuring every exercise builds and doesn’t damage.
Exercise in cardiac rehabilitation isn’t about intensity — it’s about intention. Every stretch, every step, every breath retrains the heart to trust itself again.
A word of caution here is that one must choose the best cardiac rehab program that is carried out by the most skilled and experienced therapists. Sukino Healthcare, with its finest team of experts, has been providing the finest and top-notch cardiac rehab services for over a decade and quietly boasts of a very high success rate of recoveries from the condition that threatens the lives of most people.
BY: Sukino
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