“Rehabilitation means regaining a sense of your own worth, your strength, your ability to rebuild and construct a new life.” – Nelson Mandela
Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Vital Step Towards Recovery
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a medically supervised program designed to improve cardiovascular health for people who have experienced heart attacks, heart failure, angioplasty, or heart surgery. This comprehensive approach combines physical activity, education on heart-healthy living, and counselling to reduce stress and promote a heart-healthy lifestyle. CR has been shown to significantly improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of future heart problems.
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation typically involves:
- Medical Evaluation: A thorough assessment to tailor the program to individual needs.
- Physical Activity: Exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, and flexibility.
- Lifestyle Education: Guidance on nutrition, smoking cessation, weight management, and stress reduction.
- Support: Counselling to help with emotional and mental health.
Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Participating in a CR program offers numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Heart Health: Regular exercise strengthens the heart and helps it pump more efficiently.
- Reduced Risk of Future Heart Problems: Education on lifestyle changes can prevent further cardiac issues.
- Better Quality of Life: Many patients report feeling more energetic and less anxious about their health.
- Support Network: CR programs often provide a sense of community and support from others with similar experiences.
For more detailed information, you can visit the American Heart Association Or The Australian Heart Foundation.
My Personal Journey with Cardiac Rehabilitation
My journey towards cardiac rehabilitation began after a series of life-threatening health issues. I was diagnosed with aspergillomas and sarcoidosis, which eventually led to heart failure. The severity of my condition culminated in ventricular tachycardia (VT), a condition where the heart beats too fast, leading to an emergency heart transplant.
Diagnosed with Aspergillomas and Sarcoidosis
Aspergillomas, also known as “fungus balls,” are caused by a fungal infection that led to severe complications in my lungs. Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory response to an infection can affect various organs. For me sarcoidosis significantly impacted my lungs, voice box, diagram and finally heart, leading to heart failure.
Heart Failure and Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)
The heart failure progressed rapidly. On top of this the sarcoidosis created scarring in my heart. The electrical circuit in my heart was impacted. I started experiencing episodes of sustained VT. My heart would beat dangerously fast for more than three minutes, putting my life at risk during each attack. This condition was terrifying. Sustained VT for me felt like a blower vac was pushing air upwards and outwards from my chest and oesophagus.
Each VT episode brought crash carts and upwards of 6 medical staff to my bedside up to 6 times a day. At one stage I knew I was in trouble as I witnessed the resuscitation Doctor’s jaw clenching involuntarily. I was listed as palliative in January 2023 with a 6 month life expectancy. It was not until May 1 2023 that I was placed on the active transplant list as a potential heart recipient. I needed to deal with breast cancer and the mould infection before I was considered viable.
The Life-Saving Heart Transplant
After a mastectomy and reconstruction, radiation therapy, and a right lung lobectomy I was finally listed for a heart transplant. The transplant surgery was complex and confronting, but it saved my life. The journey didn’t end there; it marked the beginning of a long road to recovery through cardiac rehabilitation, adhering to the medication protocols, clinic visits and crucial post transplant testing.
The Role of Cardiac Rehabilitation in My Recovery
Post-transplant, doctors require recipients to attend a comprehensive CR program to help you regain strength and learn to live with your new heart. In fact the rehabilitation started the second day I was out of ICU and in a ward. You will find the physiotherapists will get you out of bed as soon as possible. In the post WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A HEART TRANSPLANT, I discuss the loss of leg strength.
Initially I was in a wheel chair for the first few weeks after transplant. I needed to learn to walk again. I found it almost impossible to stand up from the bed or seat. During clinic visits I found it challenging to walk around to all the required testing.
I suggest you ask for a wheel chair. The last thing you need to do is trip or collapse on the floor. You are not able to use your arms to help push off the ground because of the sternum injury for at least 8 weeks. Through cardiac rehab I slowly regained the strength in my legs and upper body as well as more overall stamina.
Post Transplant Rehabilitation Program
The program included:
- Exercise: Starting with gentle activities like walking and gradually increasing the intensity as my strength returns.
- Education: Learning about heart-healthy diets and the importance of medication adherence.
- Support: Connecting with a community of other heart transplant patients and healthcare professionals who provided invaluable support and encouragement.
The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation were profound. It not only improved my physical health but also helped me manage the emotional and psychological aspects of recovering from such a major surgery. Today, I feel more empowered and equipped to take care of my heart, Wednesday thanks to the tools and support provided by my CR program. I undertook the SVHA Rehab program for the first 3 months after the transplant. I was then referred to my local heart clinic to continue rehabilitation each Friday. You can ask the transplant team to refer you to a closer rehab center to reduce travel and make the program more accessible and sustainable for you in the long term.
Remember …
Cardiac rehabilitation is available to all heart transplant recipients, for life. All patients are welcome to join the rehab program both before and after their transplant, for life. Yes, for life!!!
What Is Involved In St Vincent’s Hospital Rehabilitation Program
The Transplant Rehabilitation Program is an 8-week education, exercise, and lifestyle initiative designed to prepare you for life after a transplant. This program aims to help you regain confidence and reintegrate into the workforce or participate in lifestyle activities you once thought were no longer possible.
You will attend regular gym classes twice a week, along with education sessions led by transplant pharmacists, nursing staff, dieticians, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Both you and your family or caregiver will receive essential information about medications and various transplant-related topics. The rehabilitation program is mandatory, and your attendance is monitored at least for the first 8 weeks.
Reality Check
Transplant resources state that within three months, “most transplant patients are ready to resume a normal lifestyle. This can include returning to work, high school, or university, as well as engaging in volunteering or training for new work skills or hobbies.”
I feel that this statement is misleading and may give potential heart transplant recipients a false sense of reality.
Through the Heart lung clinic visits or online I connect daily with fellow recipients. During these conversations, I discovered most heart / lung recipients have not returned to full time work or pre illness duties as usual for many months if not years post transplant. I have not returned to work as a Principal due to ongoing illness and complications. It is important you have realistic expectations. Three months after a heart transplant is not a very long recovery time. Considering the medications, clinic visits and ongoing testing you will be really busy with medical appointments. You adjust to a new normal after a heart transplant. You need to allow yourself time, grace and care.
To learn more about how cardiac rehabilitation can help you, visit the Mayo Clinic or SVHA Rehabilitation.
Is Cardiac Rehabilitation Worth Doing?
Cardiac rehabilitation is an essential part of recovering from serious heart conditions. It offers a structured and supportive environment to help you regain strength, learn healthy habits, and improve your overall well-being. Whether you’re recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery, or like me, a heart transplant, cardiac rehabilitation can provide the tools and support you need for a healthier future.
If you or a loved one is facing a heart condition, consider early discussions regarding cardiac rehabilitation with your healthcare provider. It might just be the step that changes your life for the better.
For further reading, check out the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American College of Cardiology for comprehensive resources on cardiac rehabilitation.
Where are you on your transplant journey? Are you a carer or relative of a donor or transplant recipient? Reach out and let us know in the form below.
X
Wednesday
Reference List
American Heart Association. (n.d.). What is Cardiac Rehabilitation? Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/what-is-cardiac-rehabilitation
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Cardiac Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cardiac-rehabilitation/about/pac-20385192
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Cardiac Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/cardiac-rehabilitation
American College of Cardiology. (2020, March 16). Cardiac Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2020/03/16/12/42/cardiac-rehabilitationSt Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. (n.d.). Cardiac Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.svhhearthealth.com.au/rehabilitation/resources-rehabilitation
