Cardiac Rehabilitation
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
What are the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation?
What are the phases of cardiac rehabilitation?
Who is eligible for cardiac rehabilitation?
Where can I find my nearest cardiac support group?
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a term used by health professionals; 'cardiac' refers to the heart and 'rehabilitation' means to restore health.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a process that helps you make essential changes to your lifestyle so you can return to as 'normal' a life as possible following a cardiac event.
The main goals of cardiac rehabilitation are:
· To prevent you suffering further cardiovascular events by helping YOU take control of your life
· To improve your quality of life
Cardiac rehabilitation services provide you and your family with education, information, physical activity and social support with help from health professionals - including dieticians, nurses, physiotherapists, cardiologists, psychologists and others.
What are the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a vitally important part of your recovery and can make a real difference to you and your family. They have been shown to:
· reduce your chance of having another heart attack
· decrease complications
· increase your chance of survival
· improve quality of life for both you and your family/whanau
· improve your confidence
What are the phases of cardiac rehabilitation?
In New Zealand, cardiac rehabilitation is currently delivered in three phases:
Phase 1 - Inpatient Rehabilitation
While you are in hospital you should receive information relevant to your heart event or procedure, a discharge plan and referral to attend a Phase 2 programme. You will also be given advice on lifestyle changes in order to reduce the risk of having another heart event.
Phase 2 - Outpatient Rehabilitation
Phase 2 consists of a supervised programme of six to twelve weeks duration following your discharge from hospital. The programme involves:
· exercise (done at home and/or in a group)
· education on medication, risk factors, healthy eating
· helping you to return normal daily living activities, including work and social support.
Phase 3 - Long term maintenance
Phase 3 takes place in your local community in cardiac clubs (see below) which meet regularly (usually weekly). They encourage and support your lifestyle changes.
Ideally you should take part in all 3 stages but you can access the services at different stages should you wish to.
Who is eligible for cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation can help anyone who has had a heart attack or any cardiac event or procedure, either recently or in the past, for example:
· coronary artery bypass surgery
· angioplasty (stent)
· stable or unstable angina
· controlled heart failure
· valve surgery
Your family members are also encouraged to participate throughout the cardiac rehabilitation process.
Where can I find my nearest cardiac support group?
Cardiac Clubs
Cardiac clubs give you and your partner/family/whanau the chance to meet and talk with others who have gone through similar experiences. Most clubs have physical activity programmes, invite guest speakers to talk about heart health related issues as well as other general topics. All cardiac clubs try to promote a warm social atmosphere.
There are a large number of cardiac clubs throughout New Zealand with a significant number of these are affiliated to the Heart Foundation. For a list of cardiac clubs affiliated to the Heart Foundation please click here
Additional Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes
For additional cardiac rehabilitation programmes click here to see the National Heart Foundation Cardiac Rehabilitation Directory which outlines the phase 1, 2 & 3 programmes available throughout New Zealand.
Every endeavour has been made to ensure the information in this directory is accurate and up-to-date. If you would like to add a programme to the directory or make changes to a programme that is currently listed please click here
