Just a Third of People Will Undergo Rehabilitation After a Heart

Attack
Just the third of people who survive heart attacks in the United States will go on to receive
outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. This is according to a government health officials report. This
low number is despite recommendations for rehab to help reduce the risk of further heart attacks.
Every year nearly 800,000 adults in the United States have heart attacks and 210,000 of these are
repeated heart attacks.
This is despite the fact that following a cardiac rehab program can help reduce the risk of a
recurrence. Attending cardiac rehab helps to extend medical supervision once patients have been
discharged after a heart attack. The report looked at health survey data from 20 states and from
the District of Colombia for 2013. It was carried out for the CDCs division for heart disease and
stroke prevention.
Researchers also looked survey results from four states for 2015. They found that in 2013, 34%
of approximately 9000 heart attack survivors entered into cardiac rehabilitation once they had
left the hospital. The figures for the four states studied in 2015 showed only a slight increase at
around 36%. Researchers also looked at who was most likely to go for rehab and who was less
likely to seek further help.
They found younger adults, those who were less educated, women, Blacks, and Hispanics were
less likely to attend recommended post-discharge treatment. This was also linked to lack of
insurance. There are also significant differences between states. In Hawaii, just one in five heart
attack patients went on to receive cardiac rehab in 2013 whereas in Minnesota this figure was
60%.
One thing agreed by both researchers and heart experts is that these low rates of cardiac
rehabilitation attendance place thousands of people at risk. They are at risk of having another
heart attack. Data has shown that patients enrolling in cardiac rehabilitation are likely to have
improved outcomes. They have been found to even have a lower mortality rate amongst those
who suffered significant cardiac events.
Researchers were particularly concerned about targeting groups who were less likely to attend
cardiac rehabilitation but who were every bit as likely to benefit. One thing being considered is
lowering out-of-pocket expenses. Another thing to consider is increasing access to affordable
cardiac rehabilitation programs, particularly in areas where rehabilitation rates are low.
What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation and Why Can It Be Helpful?
Cardiologists recommend cardiac rehabilitation for anybody who has had a cardiovascular event
or a heart attack. The risk of having another one is substantially higher. Immediately after having
a heart attack, patients are often weak and need to regain their strength. Cardiac rehabilitation is
a program devised to help with issues associated with heart health.
Often heart patients will see a number of different specialists. This includes their cardiologist, a
physical therapist and possibly a nutritionist and behavior modification specialist. Between them,
they can create a program that will provide heart patients with a healthier future. This program
will give people who have had a heart attack, customized solutions to help prevent a recurrence.
As well as being useful for people who have had heart attacks, a cardiac rehabilitation program
can be useful for anybody who has had open heart surgery. Its also useful for people who have a
stent or pacemaker, or who has had any kind of cardiac surgery. The issues addressed within a
cardiac rehabilitation program include diet and fitness. It also includes health education such as
how to check your heart rate and how to measure body fat.
Patients receive additional support by being introduced to others in cardiac rehabilitation and
they receive regular assessment tests and evaluations. For those that prefer to work on their own,
its often possible to have private lessons that can even be provided at home. The length of the
program is varied according to a patients needs. For example, someone who was relatively
healthy beforehand may need just six weeks of intensive support.
This is before they can resume a relatively normal lifestyle. They need help planning regular
exercise and heart-healthy meals to help them return to normal. Someone who has had a more
severe cardiac event may need up to a year of intensive rehabilitation. Whatever the program
recommended for you, its intended to be a positive experience that will set you on the path to a
healthier future and hopefully a longer life.
Patients attending cardiac rehabilitation are given access to a world of useful knowledge and
information. When the program is correctly followed, they should feel much better than before.