Cardiac Rehabilitation
The Howard University Hospital Heart Center includes a medically supervised Cardiac Rehabilitation Program that helps patients with heart problems improve their health and well-being. This comprehensive program includes exercise training, education, counseling and behavior modification.
Our team of doctors, nurses, exercise specialists, physical and occupational therapists, dieticians, psychologists and clinical social workers help patients resume a productive and healthy lifestyle.
The program particularly benefits people who have had.
- A heart attack within the last 12 months.
- Coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting
- Heart or lung transplants
- Stable angina pectoris
- Coronary bypass or valve repair or replacement.
The program is carefully designed to accommodate the individual needs of each patients. Patients typically spend 12 weeks in cardiac rehabilitation, attending two to three sessions each week.
Patients receive instruction about appropriate levels of physical activity and are monitored by EKG to see how their heart reacts and adapts to exercise.
The program has many benefits, including:
- Recovery from heart attack or heart surgery
- Prevention of future hospital stays and heart problems
- Addressing risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking and lack of physical activity
- Adoption of a heart healthy lifestyle
- Improvement of quality of life, making it easier to work and participate in social activities and exercise
Participation requires a physician referral. If you feel you could benefit from these services, discuss the program with your physician and request a referral. Contact us for more information.
