The benefits of cardiac rehab

Cardiac rehabilitation is very important to your recovery after a heart attack. Not only will it make you feel better, it will reduce your risk of further heart attacks.

Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) is a programme of education and support offered to anyone that has had a heart attack and their family/whānau.

It's very important that you attend cardiac rehabilitation because the programme will:

• Reduce your risk of another heart attack
• Reduce the likelihood of complications following your heart attack and any surgery you might have had
• Give you helpful tips on nutrition
• Give you advice on exercise after a heart attack and help to increase your confidence
• Improve your overall wellbeing
• Give you an opportunity to ask questions you haven't been able to ask your clinical team and other people who've had a heart attack.

Am I eligible?

Yes. Anyone who has had a heart attack is eligible. Your group will include other people who have recently had a heart attack, as well as people with other types of heart disease.

If you've suffered a subsequent heart attack you can attend cardiac rehabilitation again, even if you've attended it previously. You can attend the programme for as long as you think necessary.

Our cardiac rehabilitation page provides more in-depth information about the different phases of cardiac rehabilitation, what the programme contains and how it is offered.

To find your nearest cardiac rehabilitation programme visit our Heart Help directory.

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