Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and millions of Americans suffer from one form or another of this potentially deadly ailment. There are many conditions that can adversely affect someone's heart, ranging from genetic defects some are born with to lifestyle-generated cardiovascular issues, which generally result in narrowed blood vessels leading to chest pain and increased risk of such events as strokes.
Recovery from heart attacks and managing heart disease can entail a wide spectrum of interventions that include such things as improving fitness, controlling stress, quitting smoking, making dietary changes, as well as the use of several therapeutic medications.
Most health experts agree the easiest way to treat non-genetic heart disease is to not get it in the first place. Recognizing this has led health professionals across the country to begin putting a lot of energy into helping their patients acquire the types of lifestyle habits that can give them the best opportunity to avoid encountering preventable heart problems.
These lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to be one of the most effective ways of coping with heart disease and managing it before it advances too far and requires more serious medical interventions. The types of measures encouraged by health professionals are both effective and simple. They include:
Of course, prevention is just one part of the battle in fighting heart disease. Once a problem develops, you must consider other approaches to best manage heart disease.
Mayo Clinic reports that you should aim for
150 minutes a week
of moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking at a brisk pace.
Once heart problems have advanced to a certain point, the active and ongoing intervention of medical professionals is usually needed to treat the condition and help patients return to a healthy state. This typically involves the use of medications in combination with a variety of other techniques aimed at a holistic approach to reversing the forward progress of any heart condition.
For those who have been diagnosed with advanced stages of heart disease and are living with heart disease, medical professionals can design a structured treatment program that attacks the underlying condition from a number of different angles. Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program that includes physical activity, education about healthy living, and counseling to find ways to relieve stress and improve mental health. This approach is usually customized to an individual's specific situation, and can involve:
The advantage of a cardiac rehab program for managing heart disease is that with the expert guidance of trained therapeutic professionals, the cumulative impact of each employed technique is frequently greater than the sum of its parts. Heart disease patients typically maintain a more disciplined approach to therapies in this type of environment, which results in improved results.
Restoring cardiac health often depends upon a conscientious and systematic approach to managing heart disease.
Coping with heart disease doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Rehab Select, our medical professionals provide specialized cardiac rehabilitation in Alabama for both acute and chronic heart conditions. Our therapists can guide you through an individualized program of exercises and techniques to help you overcome living with heart disease. Find out how to improve your heart health and start the road to a healthier you.
We’d love to share more about cardiac rehab at our five Alabama locations — book a meeting today!