| Cardiac rehabilitation is a treatment programme to | | | | Having then taken part in this phase, patients are |
| help heart patients manage their condition, | | | | then encouraged to move on to long term |
| improve their health and recover their quality of | | | | support and management through the community |
| life after a cardiac event, such as a heart attack | | | | Phase IV programmes which are often run in |
| or heart surgery. | | | | church halls and local leisure centres. These |
| A heart rehabilitation programme during Phase III | | | | programmes are run by advanced fitness |
| usually includes: | | | | instructors who have undergone specialist training |
| Exercise | | | | with the British Association for Cardiac |
| Education and advice | | | | Rehabilitation. |
| Relaxation and emotional support | | | | Phase IV cardiac rehabilitation offers ongoing, long |
| A chance to meet others going through | | | | term support to those who have either had |
| similar experiences | | | | cardiac surgery or a cardiac event. |
| It can be offered in a variety of settings, and | | | | Who can participate in Phase IV? |
| nowadays it is not just a service that is run from | | | | . Post heart attack |
| the local hospital, but increasingly there are | | | | . Stable Angina |
| community and home based services too. | | | | . Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft |
| People often refer to their heart rehabilitation as | | | | . Post Angioplasty, stent, with or without a |
| happening in phases, this being I - IV. After having | | | | previous event |
| had surgery, or recovering from a heart attack | | | | . Those who are stable awaiting a Coronary |
| or angioplasty patients are sometimes offered a | | | | Artery Bypass Graft or Angioplasty |
| choice as to where they would like to do their | | | | . Stable chronic Heart failure |
| rehabilitation, this part is known as Phase III. | | | | . Controlled Arrhythmia's |
| It is now becoming increasingly common for those | | | | . Post Valve replacement or repair |
| who have had an angioplasty to be referred | | | | . Implanted Defibrillator |
| straight to Phase IV, and indeed some patients | | | | . Permanent Pacemaker |
| who have had heart surgery such as valve | | | | . Post Heart transplant |
| replacement may also find this being offered. | | | | One of the major lifestyle changes involves taking |
| Phase III is not only heart rehabilitation exercise | | | | regular physical activity that is appropriately |
| sessions but vital information and education is | | | | prescribed. This is where a Phase IV instructor |
| given. There are also opportunities to meet and | | | | can offer individual expert advice, ongoing support |
| ask questions of other health professionals and | | | | and encouragement on a long term basis offering |
| most importantly the specialist heart nurses, who | | | | the individual a suitable heart rehabilitation exercise |
| give lots of encouragement and support. | | | | programme. |