Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab
Resources for Recovery
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help heart patients recover quickly and improve their overall physical, mental and social functioning. The goal is to stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of cardiovascular disease, thereby reducing the risk of another cardiac event or death.
At Huntsville Memorial Hospital, we know the challenges cardiovascular patients face as they approach their recovery and strive to return to their everyday lives. We provide engaging, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs that give these patients the resources, guidance, and encouragement to make the fullest recovery possible.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists who provide care, support, and education to patients with various pulmonary diseases. Our team includes pulmonary physicians, respiratory therapists, registered nurses, exercise specialists and dietitians—all with extensive experience and expertise in treating patients suffering from pulmonary disease. Pulmonary rehab is an outpatient program but we work closely with our patients to provide education, treatment, and resources to manage their condition and thrive in their everyday lives.
Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients who have:
- COPD
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Lung transplant
- Lung cancer
- History of Covid-19 causing respiratory dysfunction
QUICK LINKS
Cardiac Rehab Capabilities
CARDIAC REHAB PROGRAM
- Counseling so the patient can understand and manage the disease process
- Beginning an exercise program
- Counseling on nutrition
- Helping the patient modify risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity
- Providing vocational guidance to help the patient to return to work
- Lending emotional support
- Counseling on appropriate use of prescribed medications
- Regularly communicating with the referring physician
THE PATIENT’S ROLE
Rehabilitation is only as effective as a patient’s commitment to getting better. The Cardiac Rehab staff will provide guidance and support, but the lifestyle modifications made at home can dramatically improve recovery and quality of life. This includes a heart healthy diet, home exercise, medication adherence and quitting smoking.
TYPICAL DIAGNOSES
Cardiac rehabilitation is often prescribed to patients with:
- Heart attack
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)
- PTCA (balloon angioplasty, also called stenting)
- Angina Pectoris (chest pain caused by clogged heart arteries)
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Heart transplant
Our rehabilitation team will prepare an exercise program tailored to the specific patient’s needs. Often this exercise will be accompanied by ECG monitoring to check the heart’s performance during physical activity. These programs, combined with appropriate lifestyle changes, have proven to dramatically improve the health and well-being of cardiovascular patients.
Schedule an Appointment
For more information about our cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, contact us at (936) 291-4598 today.
Pulmonary Rehab Capabilities
GOALS
Every patient approaches rehabilitation with certain, specific goals depending on their pulmonary disease, physical condition and the concerns of their doctor. We approach all of our pulmonary patients with several overarching objectives for their rehabilitation.
These objectives include:
- Help patients understand their disease and how it limits their functioning
- Teach patients methods to cope with their condition and minimize its effects
- Train patients to foster their physical mobility and independence
- Decrease reliance on supplemental oxygen
- Guide patients in how to optimize their well-being and independence
- Improve overall health to decrease patient’s ER visits and hospital admissions
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Patients participating in pulmonary rehabilitation will be introduced to traditional exercise sessions and given the education and tools to manage their condition. Depending on the patient’s condition and adherence to program, typically the rehabilitation program lasts from six to twelve weeks. Our team will closely monitor the patients’ progress and determine when the patient has made sufficient progress to be discharged from the program.
The program includes:
- Instruction in breathing exercises, medication use and adherence, oxygen therapy, and exercise regimens
- Physical conditioning sessions
- Consultations with a nutritionist
- Techniques for conserving energy
- Communicating with the referring physician as needed
FIND A PHYSICIAN
Use our online directory to find a physician that meets your health needs and your personal preferences.
VISIT HMH CLINICS
HMH has four specialty health clinics to meet the needs of our community. Capabilites include primary care, surgery, orthopedics and dialysis.