Cardiac Rehabilitation: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Patients who have been diagnosed with heart diseases such as heart failure, heart attack, heart surgery, heart transplant, angioplasty etc. are offered cardiac rehabilitation, which involves complex, comprehensive and diversified interventions through various methods and sources. Cardiac rehabilitation is a long-term process, which even goes up to a year. Some of these methods include physical activity, stress management, advice on how to maintain a healthy heart lifestyle, psychological treatment etc. Through cardiac rehabilitation patients are able to recover sooner, which helps them to perform their normal physical activities the way they were doing before undergoing heart surgeries.

As more number of heart patients are increasing globally, cardiac rehabilitation has become popular in recent times, as it has proved to provide with satisfied results and happy patients. International guidelines have been drawn through which doctor’s carry out the process of cardiac rehabilitation. There are generally two types of the cardiac rehabilitation process that are offered to the patients. First, is the community-based rehabilitation where a group of patients are together given the treatment and second is the home-based treatment where personal attention is given to one patient at a time. Patients are free to choose which type of service they want as per their preferences, feasibility, and needs.

Cardiac rehabilitation is very important, as heart patients are sensitive to the natural physical environment as well as mental health and it is necessary that patients undergo this treatment. This treatment, however, has not been made compulsory and is the patient’s choice ultimately. There are several private as well as government organizations, which provides this service to the patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation is several steps and a complex process. There are several steps through which cardiac rehabilitation is carried out. Three broad steps through which it is done are, first, counseling on physical exercise and training is provided, second, patients are provided with basic education on a heart-healthy lifestyle and third, counseling is given to the patients to reduce mental stress levels. Along with these three main components, other services offered are the management of medicines, rehabilitation to help patients quit smoking, informing them about early warning signs and what to do if they are prone to heart diseases etc.

There are several ways through which the heart patients are given cardiac rehabilitation, some of them are counseling in hospitals, at homes, through telephones, face to face, community rehabilitation, over the internet, through books and videos etc. Most importantly cardiac rehabilitation is a group effort and the patients interact with a lot of intermediaries such as nurses, physiotherapist, dietitian, audit and evaluation specialist, personal trainer etc., which help them to gain confidence and deal with day-to-day activities.

Patients who have recently undergone a heart transplant, heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery disease, bypass surgery, valve replacement, coronary intervention etc. are eligible to undergo cardiac rehabilitation. Moreover, Doctors always advise the patients whom they feel should take a rehabilitation so as to reduce further risk. Medicare and most of the other medical insurance cover cardiac rehabilitation as it an expensive process. Cardiac rehabilitation is carried out as soon as the heart surgery is over and when the patient is in a recovery mode. There is no age limit as to who is eligible to undergo cardiac rehabilitation.

Services like psychological counseling, stress management, educating about healthy heart living are provided once the surgery is over. Once the patient has recovered from the surgery and is fit to walk and able to perform other physical activities, Physical training and other exercises are taught to the patients in order to help them recover and adjust to their day-to-day activities completely. Cardiac rehabilitation is a long-term process and the services range from three months to over a year depending upon the adaptability and progress of the patient.

Patients who have undergone other surgeries, which does not involve the cardiac system of our body, such as kidney transplant, eye surgery, ligament transplant etc. are not eligible to undergo cardiac rehabilitation. Patients suffering from type-1 diabetes, chest pain etc. also need not take cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is provided only to those patients who have undergone extensive heart surgeries and those who are unable to cope with the physical environment. The doctor always suggests it whether or not cardiac rehabilitation is required or not. So there are no particular eligibility criteria, all the patients who feel the need to undergo rehabilitation are welcomed to undergo one. It is important that one undergoes cardiac rehabilitation as it reduces further risks of heart diseases and failures.

Cardiac rehabilitation does have some of the side effects involved, which if taken proper care of can be minimized. Some of the side effects are poor referral rate for elder people, women, people residing in rural area’s etc., rapid weight loss due to exercise involved, depression, low social acceptance, low confidence, loss of jobs due to extensive work leaves etc. However, these risks can be avoided if responsible steps are taken and proper care is given to the body. Though majorly there is a positive outlook of cardiac rehabilitation as it helps the patients to recover smoothly and maturely.

Undergoing cardiac rehabilitation is a long and continuous process, which the patients go through. Even though cardiac rehabilitation is a long-term process, it is important to continue the methods and knowledge learned during the process so as to continue living a heart-healthy lifestyle. There are several guidelines given by various international organizations, which the patients must keep following. Some of them include, following a strict diet as prescribed by a dietician, exercising regularly, practicing psycho-education received in cardiac rehabilitation, a continuation of medicines as prescribed, not getting involved in some rigorous physical labor which might add stress to the heart etc. In order to improve quality of life and to avoid risks of further heart diseases, it is important to implement continuously what one learned during cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a continuous, comprehensive and long-term process. There are several intermediaries like nurses, doctors, personal trainers, dieticians, psychologists etc. involved thus it takes up a lot of time as you recover gradually. Ideally, cardiac rehabilitation ranges from a period of three months up to a year depending on the adaptation and progress report of the patient. It is difficult to adjust to a normal lifestyle as patients have undergone severe surgeries, thus, a lot of care and attention is given to each patient so they can gain their confidence again. Cardiac rehabilitation is a lifelong learning as even after leaving the rehabilitation process the knowledge gained is implemented like exercising regularly, following a strict diet etc.

The cost of cardiac rehabilitation in India is not as much as compared to other countries. It typically costs between 6,000 Rs. to 20,000 Rs. per month depending upon the type of services and organizations the patients chooses for the rehabilitation. The private organization charges much more than government hospitals. This cost is inclusive of exercise guidelines, diet consultation, emotional support, physiotherapy etc. The prices are subject to change depending upon different cities within the country.

Cardiac rehabilitation has proved to successfully reduce the risks of further heart-related problems to its patients who have successfully completed the process of rehabilitation. It, however, is strongly recommended by the doctors and practitioners to continue the learning of the rehabilitation such as exercising regularly, following a strict diet etc. and to implement them in day-to-day practices. If one does not continue to practice what is taught, then there are pretty high chances of becoming prone to heart-related problems. Thus, it entirely depends upon the patient of how good care one is taking after the rehabilitation process is completed.

Several medical insurances do not cover the cost of cardiac rehabilitation and the process can be expensive for many people. For those who cannot afford cardiac rehabilitation, there are several other alternatives such as cycling, hiking, running basically keeping yourself in a good health physically. It is recommended not to involve in rigorous sports such as basketball and football, which turns up the heart rate but rather to practice, exercises, which keeps the heart rate normal. Yoga also has proven to be effective in recovering from heart surgeries and practicing yoga poses results in a healthy heart life. Implementing these techniques is only recommended to those who cannot afford a proper rehabilitation, another guidance under a doctor is very important.