Cardiac Rehab Fact Sheet

Cardiac Patient Care Handbook

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Half a million people die each year from heart disease. Many people get symptoms when they are in their 40’s or 50’s.

Chances of a person having heart disease are increased when one or more risk factors are present. Risk factors include:

• Smoking.
• High Cholesterol.
• High Blood Pressure.
• Family History of Heart Disease.
• Diabetes.
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Obesity.
• Stress.
• Age.

A Cardiac Rehab Program is an important tool to fight heart disease. The program usually has 3 main parts:

• Education.
• Exercise.
• Encouragement.

The first feature is education. Patients and families learn about their heart disease, how to reduce their risk factors, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The third feature is encouragement. Patients and their families benefit greatly from sharing experiences with others who are in a similar situation. They don’t feel as alone in their fight against heart disease. Encouragement from each other assists in their recovery.

Talk to your doctor about rehab programs that are available locally including the one at Mercy St. Charles Hospital.