Improving Your Heart’s Future After A Heart Attack
We held our second instalment of our “Home Health with Speedoc” webinar series last month, focusing on cardiac rehabilitation as part two of our heart health series, titled “Matters of the Heart”.
We interviewed Tay Hung Yong, Senior Principal Physiotherapist of Rehab Paradigm, on what cardiac rehabilitation is, how cardiac rehabilitation can help heart attack patients improve the future of their heart health, and more.
Missed the webinar? Watch it on-demand here in full, or keep reading for some highlights from the session.
Anyone with a heart condition should consider cardiac rehabilitation
Examples of such conditions include chronic heart failure, heart attacks, or post-cardiac events such as insertion of a pacemaker or a coronary artery bypass. There are, however, exceptions to this general rule of thumb. Patients who have conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, unstable angina, acute or unstable cardiac failure, and more might not be able to undergo cardiac rehabilitation. Always consult your cardiologist or physiotherapist on whether cardiac rehabilitation is suitable for you.
Cardiac rehabilitation saves lives
Research has shown that cardiac rehabilitation reduces heart disease deaths by 58%, reduces the risk of another heart attack by 30% and risk of stroke by 60%, and reduces hospital readmission by 18%. and disability. Cardiac rehabilitation also ensures that you regain the ability to conduct daily activities like carrying groceries up a flight of stairs, thus helping you maintain your quality of life.
There is no fixed duration for cardiac rehabilitation
There are four phases of cardiac rehabilitation, starting from the day you recover from a heart attack or procedure. It is important to note that every heart is different and will take a different amount of time to recover.
Phase 1 begins in the hospital, right after your surgery or procedure; your team of doctors, nurses and therapists will assess your condition and determine what kinds of physical activities your body can handle.
After you are discharged from the hospital, Phase 2 of cardiac rehabilitation begins. Your physiotherapist will kick off your exercise programme after assessing your medical and physical condition.
Your exercise programme intensifies in Phase 3, with additional strengthening exercises specifically tailored to your needs, such as requirements for work or sports. Your physiotherapist will focus on helping you integrate these exercises into daily life to prepare you for a smooth transition into being in charge of your exercise routine.
Finally, in Phase 4, you will become fully in charge of your cardiac rehabilitation, where you will be the one determining when and how you need help. Physiotherapy will mainly serve the purpose of reinforcing safety precautions and helping to reduce your risk of injuries.
It takes a village to improve your heart’s future
Cardiac rehabilitation involves more than just the patient and the physiotherapist. To ensure that you regain your heart health after a cardiac event, a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, dietitian, pharmacist, occupational therapist, and counsellor and/or psychologist will be needed. Here are 5 ways to improve heart health by NTUC Health.
Family support is also extremely important in cardiac rehabilitation. Family members can help facilitate lifestyle and diet changes by exercising regularly and eating a heart-healthy diet together with you and reminding you to keep to your goals. Often, family members share similar lifestyle habits and health risks, so by getting involved in your cardiac rehabilitation, they can also reduce their own risk of a cardiovascular condition.
Improving your heart’s future with Speedoc
Need a fast-track referral to a physiotherapist trained in cardiac rehabilitation or a cardiology specialist, or simply want to find out more about cardiac rehabilitation? Contact us at our hotline, +65 8180 8948 / +60 11 4166 1178, or drop us an email at contact@speedoc.com and we will get back to you within 48 hours.
Speedoc is a one-stop platform for all your medical needs. Our fully-licensed and highly experienced doctors and nurses are available 24/7 to perform house calls or video consultations for any acute conditions. Download the Speedoc app from the App Store or Google Play Store today!
