Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

Cardiovascular rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) teaches people with heart disease about lifestyle changes that can strengthen their heart, prevent future heart problems, and improve their general health. Cardiac rehab programs teach people how to exercise safely, eat a heart-healthy diet and minimize stress. A team of health-care professionals, which usually includes a doctor, nurse, dietitian, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and pharmacist, designs programs to suit the needs and circumstances of individual patients.

After a heart attack or bypass surgery, men are more likely to be encouraged to enter a cardiovascular rehabilitation program that teaches them how to exercise and modify their risk factors to prevent further heart disease. Women recovering from heart disease are much less likely to be referred to a rehab program, even though research has shown that participation in such programs can increase a woman’s life expectancy, and dramatically improve her exercise capacity and quality of life.

If your doctor doesn’t refer you to a cardiac rehab program, ask him or her if participating in such a program would be appropriate for you and if you can get a referral.

To learn about the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative (WCHI) at Women’s College Hospital, Canada's first cardiac rehabilitation and prevention program designed specifically to meet the unique needs of women, click here.

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