Cardiac Rehabilitation
An important part of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's heart care is helping patients return to the activities they enjoy. A multidisciplinary team of physical therapists and nutrition and exercise specialists provide a customized approach designed to meet each patient's unique needs.
Our cardiac recovery program combines education, support and exercise therapy. Patients will learn how to incorporate heart-healthy habits such as a proper diet, exercise and stress management techniques that can lead to a better quality of life:
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Focus on recovery - Cardiac rehabilitation begins in the hospital, following a heart attack or other acute illness. Before leaving the hospital, patients learn about their disease and risk factors that contribute to heart disease. They know what to expect during and after recovery.
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Exercise counseling and support - Patients begin a medically supervised, monitored exercise program that includes individual support from exercise professionals. Once monitoring is no longer necessary, patients continue with a customized exercise program and learn how to incorporate activity into their lifestyle.
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Heart-healthy lifestyle changes - Throughout the cardiac rehabilitation program, patients learn about good nutrition, stress management techniques and how to incorporate these behaviors into their lifestyle. During the maintenance phase of rehabilitation, continuing education will help reinforce healthy habits long term.
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Individual support - Rehabilitation specialists provide support and education throughout the recovery process in order to be a dedicated group of individuals who are focused on recovery.
Cardiac rehabilitation at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is a progressive 12-18 week program designed to educate, strengthen and return the patient to their prior level or a higher level of function. Patients are closely monitored during exercise by cardiac telemetry, pulse oximetry, blood pressure and heart rate.
Cardiac rehabilitation may lessen chances of recurrent episodes, reduce hospitalizations and improve the quality of life for many people who suffer from a heart attack. Education is a major component of this program as well, helping patients manage their medication and make healthy choices in diet and lifestyle.
Our cardiac rehabilitation program may offer patients several benefits, including:
- Increase your ability to do normal activities of daily living.
- Help you understand and accept your illness.
- Prepare you and your family for a lifestyle that will reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease.
- Increase your tolerance of and decrease fear of exercise.
- Provide a realistic approach to losing and controlling weight.
- Increase tolerance to stress and anxiety.
- Decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
- Decrease high blood pressure.
- Lessen angina pectoris or chest pain during exercise and activities of daily living.
- Improve blood vessel function.
- Improvement in cardiovascular risk factors.
- Improve coronary blood flow.
- Improve electrical stability of the heart muscle to reduce the risk of a fatal heart rhythm disturbance.
- Reduce risk of blood clots.
- Reduce cardiac work and oxygen requirements.
After you have completed the initial cardiac rehabilitation outpatient program, we offer a separate maintenance program that allows the opportunity to continue exercising under our care. Patients can continue to monitor blood pressure and oxygen saturation, and continue the camaraderie and fellowship with other participants they have met during their road to recovery.