It is called cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention, and it is a medically designed and supervised program intended to help people who have experienced some type of cardiovascular event, such as myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization surgery, or those living with chronic heart diseases.
The objective of this type of rehabilitation is to optimize physical, psychological, and social recovery in patients with cardiovascular conditions, while reducing cardiovascular risk factors and preventing future events.
In general, cardiac rehabilitation has several phases, depending on the patient’s stage and the situations they have experienced.
- Hospital phase: this phase begins while the patient is hospitalized, following an acute cardiac event or surgery. At this stage, the patient’s health is carefully monitored, and they are encouraged to perform basic movements such as sitting, standing, or walking.
- Outpatient or post-hospital phase: the patient attends scheduled, supervised rehabilitation sessions where they perform controlled exercises, receive education on cardiovascular risk factors, dietary counseling, and psychological support. The main focus is improving the heart’s and cardiovascular system’s functional capacity.
- Long-term maintenance phase: after the supervised phases, the patient must continue with an independent exercise and healthy lifestyle program. The goal at this stage is to maintain long-term benefits and prevent future complications.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation requires a multidisciplinary approach involving various disciplines such as cardiology, cardiovascular physiotherapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, nutrition, among others.
All of this is carried out as a complement to other types of cardiovascular disease treatments, which may include the use of heart medications or even surgical procedures.
Cardiovascular physiotherapy
Cardiovascular physiotherapy is the discipline focused on implementing physical exercise, breathing techniques, and education to improve both cardiovascular function and the patient’s muscular and pulmonary health.
Here, exercise programs are designed and supervised with an individualized approach to match each patient’s physical condition and health.
Among the techniques used in cardiovascular physiotherapy are:
- Low-impact aerobic exercises such as treadmill walking or stationary cycling.
- Light resistance training to improve balance and muscle strength.
- Lung expansion exercises to improve respiratory function.
- Early mobilization exercises to prevent joint stiffness.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
Another discipline is cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, an integrated program not only for people with cardiac conditions but also for those who have developed respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This is because the heart and lungs work together to ensure adequate oxygenation throughout the body. For this reason, diseases that affect the lungs often also affect the heart, and vice versa.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation focuses on improving the capacity of both systems to work more efficiently. This is achieved through physical training that enhances aerobic endurance, lung capacity, and muscle strength.
Additionally, it includes teaching controlled breathing techniques and strategies to manage dyspnea or prevent fatigue.
Another tool used is helping patients learn to manage stress, anxiety, and depression that may accompany various chronic diseases.
Together, all of this helps improve patients’ quality of life and can be found in a cardiac rehabilitation center or a cardiovascular clinic.
Exercises for the heart
Since the heart is a muscle, it also requires exercise to remain strong and efficient, just like any other muscle in the body.
In cardiac rehabilitation, heart exercises are carefully designed based on the individual characteristics of each patient, varying in type and intensity.
Aerobic exercises are the core of cardiac rehabilitation; these include activities such as walking or cycling and help strengthen the heart, improve its ability to pump blood more efficiently, enhance circulation, and increase lung capacity.
Resistance training aims to increase muscle strength without overloading the heart, as well as improve posture and coordination. This involves the use of light weights and elastic bands.
Improving flexibility and balance is especially important in older patients or those with limited cardiac function. This helps enhance overall mobility and reduce the risk of falls.
In some patients, interval training may be performed to improve cardiovascular endurance.
Breathing exercises help patients learn to breathe properly while performing other exercises, leading to better oxygenation and improved cardiovascular efficiency.
It is vital to perform all these exercises under the supervision of a specialized cardiologist, who must monitor and select the best options for each case.
Cardiac rehabilitation is an essential tool in the recovery and health of cardiovascular patients.
Cardiologists near me
At the ABC Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Center, we have a team of specialists in cardiac rehabilitation who are highly trained and dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care for all your cardiovascular rehabilitation needs.
Our cardiac rehabilitation cardiologists in Mexico City (CDMX) are committed to your well-being and use the latest technology and the most advanced treatments to manage cardiovascular rehabilitation for conditions such as angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and more.
Fuentes:
Medline Plus, Fundación Española del Corazón, Elsevier
