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Cardiac Rehabilitation May Help Heal Your Heart

female doctor holding a red stress ball in the shape of a heart

If you have had a heart attack or other heart problem, cardiac rehabilitation could be an important part of your recovery. Cardiac rehabilitation can help prevent another, perhaps more serious, heart attack and can help you build heart-healthy habits. Learn more about if you can benefit from a cardiac rehabilitation program and how it can aid in your recovery.

About 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attack every year, and about 1 in 4 of those people already had suffered a previous heart attack. Cardiac rehabilitation not only can help a person recover from a heart problem but can prevent future heart problems.

Cardiac rehabilitation health benefits:

  • Strengthening your heart and body after a heart attack
  • Relieving symptoms of heart problems, such as chest pain
  • Building healthier habits such as getting more physical activity, quitting smoking, and eating a heart-healthy diet as provided by a dietician or nutritionist
  • Reducing stress
  • Improving your mood
  • Increasing your energy and strength to make daily activities like carrying groceries and climbing stairs easier
  • Making you more likely to take your prescribed medicines that help lower your risk for future heart problems
  • Preventing future illness and death from heart disease

Who needs cardiac rehabilitation?
Anyone who has had a heart problem, such as a heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery, can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. Studies have found that cardiac rehabilitation helps men and women, people of all ages, and people with mild, moderate, and severe heart problems. Ask your physician if a cardiac rehabilitation program is right for you or a loved one.

Source: cdc.gov

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