Introduction
For individuals with recent (less than three months ago) heart-related diagnoses.  Continuous ECG, heart rate and blood pressure monitoring during exercise sessions provide the basis for learning the principles of an individualized, safe fitness program of conditioning, strengthening and flexibility.  Exercise sessions are supervised by an occupational therapist and physical therapist.  Lifestyle modifications education is provided for coronary artery disease risk reduction.

What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehab, as it is commonly known, is a plan of exercise and education for people who have heart problems. It helps you slowly and safely get back to normal activities. Fairview Red Wing’s outpatient cardiac rehab program usually lasts approximately 4 weeks or 12 treatments.

Who needs cardiac rehab?
Most rehab programs are designed to help people who:

• have had a heart attack
• are recovering from heart surgery or coronary angioplasty
• have other heart problems, such as angina (chest pain) or heart failure.

Some programs help healthy people who are out of shape and at risk for heart disease.

What is a typical outpatient cardiac rehab program at our facility?

Phase 2
Phase 2 starts after you are home. It lasts about 8 weeks and averages 3 sessions a week. The amount of exercise is slowly increased. During this phase, it is common for you to start to feel more confident that you can go back to work or do other normal daily activities.

Learning about your disease is almost as important as exercise. During the stay in the hospital, most people are anxious and stressed. Both patients and their families have a hard time remembering what they have been told about the disease. During Phase 2 you will learn:

• about the disease
• how to take care of yourself
• how to avoid problems in the future.

This phase may have classes to help you learn about a healthy diet or how to stop smoking. Support groups may help you and your family deal with your illness and the lifestyle changes you need to make.

Phase 3
Phase 1 and Phase 2 give you information on being healthier, including exercising and eating right. Phase 3 is the maintenance phase. This phase helps you develop habits for a lifetime of heart health.

What are the benefits?
Cardiac rehabilitation can:

• increase your chances of surviving a heart attack or other heart problem
• increase your ability to be active and exercise
• help you return to work sooner
• help you get back to a normal lifestyle.

The program's support can help you and your family during this difficult time.
Perhaps one of the most valuable benefits of cardiac rehab is the improved quality of life. People who have been through the program report feeling healthier and happier than they did before heart disease disabled them.

Contact us
Rehabilitation Services
Fairview Red Wing Medical Center
701 Fairview Blvd.
PO Box 95
Red Wing, MN 55066
651-267-5450