Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Highest Standards

Our department meets the rigorous standards of, and has achieved voluntary certification by the governing body that regulates cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Cardiac rehabilitation offers:

• Physical conditioning and fitness training
• Cardiac monitoring during exercise
• Individualized education
• Nutrition counseling
• Psycho-social counseling
• Physician progress reports

FAQ for Patients and Physicians

Q: How effective is cardiac rehabilitation?
A: A large body of research supports that a medically supervised exercise and education program reduces the chance of a second heart attack and improves survival and overall well-being.

Q: Is your program simply an exercise class?
A: Exercise is a big part of the program, but is only one component. Each class consists of a warm-up and cool-down stretching session, cardiovascular conditioning and an education session on a heart-related.

Q: Is the exercise like an aerobics workout? Will I be able to keep up with it?
A: Each patient is evaluated at the beginning of the program to determine a safe level of exercise tolerance. Based on this, an individualized exercise program will be prescribed. As your conditioning improves, the amount of exercise will progressively increase.

Q: Do I have to attend every session?
A: Yes. To gain the most benefit from this program, it is crucial to attend all sessions. The program consists of three one-hour sessions per week for 6 – 32 weeks. We offer a range of class times, with a flexible schedule to suit the needs of those heading back to work.

Q: What type of patient population do you accept?
A: Most of our patients have had a recent cardiac event or procedure. Individuals at high risk for heart disease, such as those with a strong family history and other documented risk factors may also benefit. Patients with congestive heart failure especially demonstrate good outcomes.

Q: What is the waiting time for referred patients to be seen?
A: New patients are started in our program every day. Most referrals are evaluated within 1-2 weeks.

Q: Will my doctor be notified of my progress?
A: Absolutely. Close contact with a patient’s referring physician is crucial to long-term success of this program.

Q: When can I resume my ordinary physical activities after a heart attack or heart surgery?
A: You should be carefully evaluated by your physician prior to resuming certain activities such as jogging, swimming, gardening, etc.

Q: Does extreme climate affect my exercise capacity?
A: It is a good idea to minimize your activity during hot, humid as well as very cold conditions. Shopping malls are a good place to walk if you do not have access to an indoor exercise facility.

Q: Can anxiety affect your heart?
A: Persistently high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease. Increased stress and anxiety can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, placing extra workload on your cardiovascular system. Over time, this can cause thickening of the walls of arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart (cardiac hypertrophy). These changes increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death.

Q: Should I avoid all fat in my diet?
A: Some fat is essential to good health. Liquid vegetable oils are important and should be taken in moderation. You should avoid animal fat. By participating in the cardiac rehabilitation program at St Agnes you will have individual diet instruction with our registered dietitian. 

Contact Information

Preventive Cardiology Services
Cardiac Outpatient Rehabilitation

410-368-2246

Team leader

410-368-3221
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