Physical Activity Helps Recovery from Heart Attack
After a heart attack in 2001 and congestive heart failure in 2002, she suddenly found it difficult to do the things she loved, such as teaching or directing her church choir. At 48, the Clarksville resident felt she was too young to have a heart attack.
“I knew exercise was the thing I needed to do, but I was afraid,” admits Atkins. “I didn’t want to put more stress on my heart.”
Yet, for people like Atkins, physical activity is the best way to strengthen the heart. So her physician prescribed cardiac rehabilitation to decrease her risks of another heart attack.
“People who have had heart failure may not be used to regular exercise and may feel nervous about it,” says Theresa Holland, BSN, RN at The Heart Center at Clark Memorial Hospital. “Cardiac rehabilitation helps patients begin an exercise program slowly under careful supervision.”
Daily exercise strengthens the heart muscle and improves the circulation of blood throughout the body. Moderate-to-low activity each day also improves blood cholesterol levels, prevents and manages high blood pressure, and maintains a healthy body weight, all of which lowers the risk for heart disease and stroke.
The
cardiac rehab registered nurses use a variety of exercise equipment to help
their patients strengthen their cardiovascular health, including treadmills,
elliptical machines, recumbent bicycles, stationary bicycles, free weights,
and arm ergometers.As Atkins exercised, registered nurses closely monitored her. Over the next six weeks, her heart became more conditioned to the exercise and her tolerance increased.
“The goal is to build the patient’s strength so he or she can exercise 30 minutes a day, five times a week, which is the recommended level of physical activity to maintain a healthy heart,” says Holland.
To help her make low-fat food choices, Atkins decided to take a healthy eating class taught by one of the hospital’s registered dietitians. This is one of the many educational classes offered for cardiac rehab patients, including smoking cessation and risk factor modification.
“We really look at the whole person when developing an individual rehabilitation program,” explains Holland. “This includes partnering with the patient’s cardiologist, registered nurses, dietitians, and social workers. We assist our patients in achieving an overall healthy lifestyle.”
Atkins completed her 12-week rehabilitation program and has continued exercising at the Wellness Center at Clark Memorial Hospital. More importantly, she is once again able to do the things she loves.
“Those women at cardiac rehab are angels,” beams Atkins. “They gave me my life back. They are truly wonderful.”
For more information on cardiac rehabilitation, please call Clark Memorial Hospital at 283-2091.
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