Bartlett Regional | House Calls | Winter 2021

8 House Calls Winter 2021 By Jacob Sitzmann, RCEP, Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator For 20 years, comprehensive exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has been linked with a lower risk of death from heart disease. The overwhelming evidence shows comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs as best practice for patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac rehabilitation can improve quality of life, increase maximal exercise capacity and oxygen uptake, improve endothelial function, decrease mortality and morbidity, decrease bad cholesterol, and improve blood pressure and blood sugar control. At Bartlett Regional Hospital, we want to help patients make the right decisions and feel better about themselves by improving risk factors and prolonging life. It’s a team effort between the patient, staff, and physician. We collaborate with their physician if problems arise, such as medication adjustments, abnormal findings, or the appearance of disease symptoms. Life following a major cardiovascular event can be complicated. A heart attack can impact much more than a person’s heart. It can have profound effects on mood and attitude, sense of certainty about the future, confidence in ability to perform duties at work and/or home, and even cause feelings of embarrassment. Often, the most challenging aspect of this job is helping patients understand that these feelings are very common, and it will take time to feel “normal” again. Building patient confidence is rewarding for both the patient and their clinical exercise physiologist. At Bartlett we follow guidelines established by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American College of Sports Medicine. Prior to starting their rehab course, patients are assessed according to the following core components: Patient assessment A risk profile is established for each patient. This includes reviewing the patient’s risk factors, comorbidities, medications and medical history. Exercise assessment Patients entering cardiac rehab typically perform some form of exercise or questionnaire which helps estimate their functional capacity. This could include a stress test, a hall walk, or an activity scoring index. An individual exercise prescription is provided based on their results. Each patient wears a heart monitor to observe their electrocardiogram during exercise for any disturbances. The program is modified throughout the course of care. Nutrition assessment A nutritional assessment helps patients understand the effect of food on their health and modify their diet for healthy food choices. This is often the most challenging core component. Patients can be referred to a dietitian for individual counseling. The Mediterranean Diet is the go-to dietary plan for managing coronary artery disease. Psychosocial assessment Depression, anxiety and denial can occur in up to 20% of patients. Questionnaires assess patients for depression and anxiety. Potential interventions from a primary care physician may include medications and/or referral to counseling. Blood pressure assessment Blood pressure is checked frequently throughout the rehab course. Abnormal Don’t count your heart out Cardiac rehab at Bartlett Regional Hospital can help you come back from a heart attack HEART HEALTH WE’RE READY TO HELP Learn more about cardiac rehab at www.bartlett hospital.org/services/ cardiac-rehabilitation .