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Cardiac Rehabilitation: Your Exercise Prescription
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Your Exercise PrescriptionCardiac rehabilitation is a program designed specifically for you to improve the health of your heart. When you begincardiac rehab, your cardiac care team will evaluate your level of fitness and develop an exercise program just for you.This exercise plan is a prescription to improve your heart health, based on your medical history, your exercise test orstress test, if you had one, and your risk level. And just like you would follow a prescription for medicine, yourexercise prescription is important for your health and should be followed.“So we started cardiac rehab very fast, and that was emotionally and psychologically very uplifting, becausenow I'm doing things that I was doing before. I was able to ride a bike. I was on a treadmill. I was on an elliptical.So that did wonders for me emotionally and psychologically.” – Kersey, PatientAn exercise prescription states what type of exercise you should do, how often, and for how long. For example, youmay be told to do aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times a week.Your exercise prescription usually also includes a target heart rate. Target heart rate refers to how many times yourheart should be beating per minute when you exercise, in order to get the most benefit while keeping your heart in asafe working range.Please remember, your cardiac rehab program is designed specifically for you so your exercise prescription may bedifferent from someone else’s. Follow your own prescription to improve your heart health.When you are prescribed aerobic exercise, choose an activity you enjoy to keep you moving. Examples of aerobicexercise include walking, cycling, and swimming. All of these exercises use large muscle groups, such as your armsand legs, and can be done continuously.Aerobic exercise is the best way to improve your cardiovascular fitness. It can help decrease symptoms, lower yourblood pressure, improve your cholesterol levels, help you lose weight, control diabetes, increase energy, andmanage stress.Weight training or resistance training is another type of exercise that may be part of your exercise prescription.These exercises help to increase muscle mass. Stronger muscles make it easier for you to carry out your dailyactivities and help you maintain a healthy body weight. Not everyone should lift weights, ask your cardiac care teamhow to get the benefits of resistance exercise safely.And finally, your exercise prescription may include flexibility exercises, or stretching. This is often combined withyour exercise sessions as part of your cool down. Flexibility exercises have many benefits for your health, includingstress relief. As you stretch, remember to breathe deeply and relax. Use this time to benefit physically as well asPage 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ha_10121_94_en_t00002.pdf© The Wellness NetworkCardiac Rehabilitation: Your Exercise Prescriptionemotionally from your exercise prescription.“Stretching is very important because it has a host of benefits for the body. The first thing is it helps to warmyou up, get the blood circulating. It’s also good for posture. But if you’ve recovered from an injury or aprocedure it helps with mobility and the joints before you start the actual exercise.”– Gabriella, Fitness InstructorAt any stage of cardiac rehabilitation, your cardiac rehab team may decide to change your prescription. As youget more physically fit, your body may need to be challenged further. This is a good thing. Gradually increaseyour exercise duration and intensity to keep working your heart.“You start off slowly, and you work your way up. As you go more times, they increase the amount ofphysical activity.” – Gordon, PatientRemember, your cardiac rehab team is there to support you along the way. Talk to your healthcare team aboutyour exercise prescription to make sure you are working out at the best level for your heart. Ask them aboutwhat exercises you can do when you are at home.Exercise can be as powerful as any medication when it comes to heart health. Follow your exercise prescriptionto improve your heart and reduce your risk of a heart event in the future.Page 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_ha_10121_94_en_t00002.pdf© The Wellness Network
Heart & Vascular Center
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