Rehab Select Blog

According to research, cardiac arrest affects 1,000 people a day and is deemed a national health crisis. What’s behind this startling statistic? Untreated heart disease is rampant in the United States.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the U.S, accounting for 928,741 deaths in the year 2020. There are 2,396 deaths from CVD each day, which means that, on average, someone dies of CVD every 36.1 seconds in the U.S.

Considering these eye-opening numbers, you may wonder how to avoid becoming a statistic. Whether you are in perfect health or recovering from a cardiac event, now is always the right time to enact these heart-healthy practices. The good news is that there are several ways to help prevent cardiovascular issues like stroke and heart attack, and, in some cases, even ways to reverse damage that may already exist. The bad news is that, for those at risk, much of the protection comes in the form of serious lifestyle changes, and these changes aren’t always easy.

Is there a connection between stress and heart disease? Medical science has long thought so, a conclusion that has been supported by many studies over the years.An article from John Hopkins Medicinepoints out that “stress can increase inflammation in your body, which in turn is linked to factors that can harm your heart, such as high blood pressure and lower ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.” In addition, chronic stress affects your heart in a more indirect way, contributing to unhealthy lifestyle choices such as poor sleep, diet, and exercise habits that take a toll over time.

Cardiac therapy is often recommended for people who have heart disease, and/or had some sort of cardiac event like a heart attack. Cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and heart failure patients can also often benefit from this therapy, to increase survival and improve quality of life.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiac rehab programs containthree essential parts: 

• Exercise counseling and training 
• Education for heart-healthy living 
• Counseling to reduce stress 

The relationship between anxiety and heart disease is a complex one. And this question is common: Is anxiety bad for the heart? In some cases, anxiety disorders can be one of the causes of heart disease, triggering, or worsening symptoms. In others, heart disease and its symptoms can cause patients great anxiety. And for some patients, it can be difficult to tell whether the symptoms they are experiencing – such as a fluttering or racing heart – are caused by anxiety or heart disease.

If you’ve recently suffered a heart attack, or are experiencing chronic or acute heart disease, you may be referred for cardiac rehabilitation.The American Heart Association defines cardiac rehab as “a medically supervised program designed to improve your cardiovascular health if you have experienced heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty or heart surgery.” The best cardiac rehabcenters design customized programs that include exercise and educationto help patients recover successfully, reduce and manage symptoms, and improve their quality of life.  

Men and women who have COPD are two to three time morelikelytohavecardiovascular diseasethan the general population. When COPD and heart disease exist together, each impacts the outcome of the other and increases your risk of death.

Workers’ comp physical therapy is an essential component in work injury rehab. It helps patients improve mobility, manage pain, prevent future injuries, and return to work as soon as possible while lowering overall costs for insurance payers and employers.  

If you’re suffering from a chronic or acute cardiac condition, or recovering from cardiac surgery, your healthcare provider may refer you for cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehab has been proven to have significant benefits for patients: it can improve your quality of life, help you manage or reduce cardiac symptoms, and even lengthen your life. 

As a nurse case manager, you naturally want to place patients at a rehab facility that can deliver the best outcomes for patients while supporting your relationships with claim adjusters. But how do you objectively evaluate a workers’ comp program? 

Nurse case managers who handle work-related injury claims face a lot of competition. How can you stand out and keep adjusters returning to your services? 

A high success rate is essential, but that's not all. Claims carriers want to feel comfortable with the nurse case managers they work with. They seek professionals with good attitudes and track records of advocating for their patients, getting them back to work quickly, and lowering medical expenses. 

So what do you need to know to establish good working relationships with insurance carriers? Here are some insights nurse case managers can use to deliver the kind of work rehabilitation that helps patients — and pleases insurance adjustors.