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.

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. 

A recent study from the American Heart Association reported that nearly half of U.S. adults are living with some form of heart condition today, and as many as 6.9% have severe cardiovascular disease. If you are one of the many people suffering from severe chronic or acute heart disease, have recently experienced a heart attack, or have undergone heart surgery, your physician may recommend inpatient cardiac rehab.

In this article, we’ll break down what you can expect from your rehab program, how to choose between inpatient and outpatient treatment, and how you might benefit from cardiac rehab. 

Hypertensive heart disease is the leading cause of death associated with high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood pumping through the heart is elevated, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood out to the body. Risk factors for high blood pressure include genetics, obesity, older age, chronic kidney disease, stress, and dietary and lifestyle issues.

Patient education is a key component of cardiac rehabilitation. The training, guidance, counseling, and information you receive during your cardiac rehab program will help you create a more heart-healthy lifestyle, manage your own condition, and feel confident in your ability to take care of yourself. What you learn during cardiac rehab can literally save your life.