Cardiac rehabilitation helps people who have a diagnosis of a heart condition or who have recently had a heart event or cardiac treatment procedure to stay out of hospital, reduce any risk of future health complications and to rebuild their health-related quality of life.
Individualised treatment plans are tailored for each patient to ensure they are safely improving their physical health and can better identify and manage other risk factors. Experiencing a heart issue or heart attack can be both a lifechanging and frightening or distressing experience, and for some people may lead to secondary mental health conditions like depression. Cardiac rehabilitation importantly also emphasises psychological health and emotional wellbeing. Patients receive holistic support to help them reach their health goals.
Cardiac rehabilitation can be provided in hospital settings or in community-based programs. Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation usually commences soon after discharge from hospital.