Cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a programme of activities that bring together a range of health skills relating to medical treatment, education, counselling, exercise, changing lifestyles and secondary prevention (detecting disease early so action can be taken to prevent it from developing). It limits the harmful effects of heart disease, reduces the risk of death or heart attack, and improves patients’ quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation aims to provide early help for everyone likely to benefit, based on an individual assessment of need. In 1993, the World Health Organisation defined cardiac rehabilitation as: ‘...the sum of activities required to influence favourably the underlying cause of the disease, as well as to ensure the patients best possible physical, mental and social conditions so that they may, by their own effects preserve or resume when lost, as normal a place in the life of the community’.

The programme provides support, advice and follow-up care for patients after a cardiac event (for example, a heart attack).

After a cardiac event, while you are still in hospital, you will be seen by the cardiac rehabilitation team and have the opportunity to discuss your diagnosis, lifestyle and any other issues that concern you.

The team will discuss your condition and help you understand the factors that contribute to a cardiac event. They will talk to you about your lifestyle and give you appropriate advice on changes you can make to reduce the risk of a further cardiac event.