Heart disease – cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is the term used to describe the education, training and support for people who have had a heart attack or developed heart disease.

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What is cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process for people who have had a heart attack or any cardiac event or procedure. This includes angina and angioplasty to insert one or more stents.

Cardiac rehabilitation services provide you and your family with education, information, physical activity and social support, helping you make essential changes to your lifestyle so you can return to as normal a life as possible after a heart event.

Goals of a rehabilitation programme

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' refers to the heart.
  • 'Rehabilitation' means restoring you to good health. 

Benefits of cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation programmes can:

  • reduce your chance of having another heart attack or cardiac event
  • decrease complications
  • increase your chance of survival
  • improve quality of life for both you and your family/whanau
  • improve your confidence.

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 or valve surgery. Your family members are also encouraged to participate with you throughout the cardiac rehabilitation process.

Stages in cardiac rehabilitation

There are three phases to your cardiac rehabilitation:

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

After discharge from hospital, Phase 2 consists of a supervised programme of six to 12 weeks' duration. The programme involves:

  • exercise (done at home and/or in a group)
  • education on medication, risk factors,
  • healthy eating
  • helping you to return to normal daily living activities, including work and
  • social support.

Phase 3 - Long-term maintenance

Phase three rehabilitation happens in the community. This stage of rehabilitation is on-going and can involve peer support, exercise sessions and/or support to make lifestyle changes to stay well with heart disease. Ideally you should take part in all three rehabilitation stages, but you can access the services at different times should you wish to.

Heart support groups

There are a large number of community-run heart support groups throughout New Zealand. To find a support group near you, visit the Heart Foundation’s HeartHelp Directory.

To find your nearest heart support group

Contact the Heart Foundation who may also be able to provide you with information on additional rehabilitation programmes available eg, home-based services provided by Maori for Maori.

Course Name: Heart Disease - Cardiac Rehabilitation
Brief Description Anyone who has had a heart attack, a stent or has angina will really benefit from attending education sessions about how to keep yourself well. The courses include information, support and education to help you make a full recovery after a heart event (heart attack, stent, angina etc).
Organisation:

Local District Health Boards and Heart Foundation
Who is this for?

Adults and family with heart problems
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes