Cardiac program contributes to the quality and quantity of life



[ad_1]

In late November, Frank Albertson, a resident of Lakewood, began to feel short of breath, chest tight and lack of energy. His wife advised him to consult a doctor and he discovered that one of his main arteries of the heart was 94% obstructed.

After the surgery, Albertson began her healing journey through the St. Anthony's Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Lakewood, a comprehensive and individualized program to help people recover from heart events such as a heart attack , open-heart surgery, valve replacement, heart failure and chest pain. The 12-week program is for patients to work with the St. Anthony Hospital Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Team to receive a diet, activity and post-surgery care tips to be ready. to go home. The St. Anthony Outpatient Rehabilitation process involves supervised physical activity, stress counseling, diet and smoking cessation, if needed.

"They worked well here. They forced me to push myself, "said Albertson, an 80-year-old man. Albertson usually goes to St. Anthony's Hospital three times a week. He uses the gym for cardiac rehabilitation, which includes treadmills, recumbent bikes, a row machine, weights, an ergometer for the arms, etc. "I learned what is good, what is better and what is not. As a result, I changed some habits. "

One of the main benefits of the program promoted by Albertson is to be part of a healthier diet. The cardiovascular rehabilitation staff includes exercise physiologists, nurses, a clinical dietitian, a licensed professional counselor and a nurse practitioner.

Sharon Kirby, nurse practitioner and head of the hospital's Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program, says the program improves the quality and quantity of people who experience it, according to the American Heart Association.

"We can not go back and change what happened, but we can look to the future and reduce the risk of readmission to the hospital because of a heart-related event," said Kirby. She estimates that 800 people attend the program each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 610,000 people die each year from heart disease in the country, or one in four deaths. February is the American month of the heart, a period conducive to awareness of heart health.

"(The Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program) makes a difference for the members of our community because we treat the whole person, mind, body and spirit. Our cardiac rehabilitation team works closely together to offer a multidisciplinary approach, "said Chandra Frazier, an exercise physiologist at St. Anthony's Hospital. "We understand that the process of mental and physical healing continues well after this patient's visit."

[ad_2]
Source link