It Can Happen in a Heart Beat……

It Can Happen in a Heart Beat……

One of the best ways to prevent heart disease is JUST MOVE. Simply put, just move for 30 minutes each day. Staying active is one of the most important things a person can do to curb obesity, improve your mood, to lower your chances of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderate activity five times per week for a total of 150 minutes a week. This can be separated into 10-15 minute intervals spaced throughout the day if your time is limited.

Making minor changes to your lifestyle may have a significant impact on reducing your risk factors of heart disease. While some risk factors are not modifiable such as gender, race, age, and family history YOU CAN impact other risk factors. Risk factors that you can change include your cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking cigarettes, physical inactivity, sleep apnea, and diabetes. Diabetes can increase your risk of a heart event three to four fold!

A heart event that qualifies for cardiac rehab includes a heart attack, angina (chest pain), cardiac surgery (such as coronary bypass, valve surgery, angioplasty, or stents), heart transplant, and heart failure. Heart failure was recently added to covered services in rehab. It is a term to describe how well the heart pumps or ejects blood. To qualify for cardiac rehab your heart is functioning at 35% or less. Not only do any of those conditions qualify for cardiac rehabilitation, they also qualify for reimbursement by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, meaning they will pay for the services.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a team approach to an individualized and personalized treatment plan including evaluation and education on physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. We strive to help people recover from their heart event not only physically but emotionally and return to their previous activities. The staff works one on one with each person to go over their risk factors to see what they can change to become healthier. Rehab is a key component in their recovery. Did you know that 1 out 2 Americans die of heart disease? Recent scientific studies have proven that people who complete a cardiac rehab program can increase their life expectancy by up to 5 years!

“If you stay in rehab for up to 25 sessions,” Pocahontas Community Hospital Cardiac Rehab director Kris Plantz said, quoting recent findings from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “it actually decreases your chances of mortality. One out of two people die of heart disease.”

Heart disease does not play favorites so people of any age can be affected and will benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. Heart disease is progressive so it is important to move every day, decrease your portion sizes of food you consume and add fruits and vegetables to every meal to decrease your risk of heart disease. Modest changes daily can impact your life so JUST MOVE.

A heart event can happen to you in a heart beat and if it does ask your doctor about cardiac rehab. Cardiac Rehabilitation is helping mend hearts one at a time at Pocahontas Community Hospital. To learn more, call PCH Cardiac Rehab at 712-335-5229.