Cardiac Rehabilitation: A New Lease Of Life

As we age, it becomes increasingly essential for us to maintain our heart health. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a clinically proven, cost-effective intervention for patients recovering from acute coronary syndrome or heart failure. Cardiac Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in managing and preventing chronic conditions, alleviating aches and pains, and enhancing daily functioning.

Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) has been around since the 1960s and its benefits have been demonstrated in multiple studies over the years. Despite the benefits and importance of CR, awareness of CR programmes remains low. Many patients encounter obstacles when they try to participate in CR programmes. The common challenges include competing commitments such as family responsibilities, financial constraints, transportation issues, and time limitation due to work schedules. In Singapore, CR programmes are offered by government restructured hospitals and community-based centres such as the Singapore Heart Foundation’s (SHF) Heart Wellness Centres (HWCs). These programmes are often available at highly subsidised rates.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac Rehabilitation aims to provide optimal physical, mental and social benefits, helping patients to preserve or resume their lives within the community. CR programmes are typically multidisciplinary, involving physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and medical social workers working together to support the patient.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation

CR typically consists of four phases

• Inpatient
  This phase occurs when a patient is hospitalised for a heart condition. It focuses primarily on education about heart disease and lifestyle modifications.
• Early Outpatient
  Continuing education, along with supervised exercise training, ensures that patients feel safe and confident when engaging in physical activities.
• Community-Based
  This phase emphasises long-term compliance with heart-healthy habits, including exercise and diet.
• Maintenance
  Ongoing support to help patients sustain their progress and to prevent future heart crisis.

Who Should Undergo Cardiac Rehabilitation?

CR is recommended for individuals who have stabilised their heart condition and have no restrictions on exercise training. Typically, it benefits:

• Patients recovering from a heart attack or undergoing heart surgeries such as bypass grafting or valve replacements.
• Individuals with chronic heart failure.
• Older adults with multiple health conditions.

CR programmes are tailored to meet individual needs and goals, ensuring that even frail patients receive appropriate care.

Key Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Reduced Hospitalisation: Patients who participate in CR experience fewer hospitalisations related to heart conditions.
• Improved Quality of Life: CR enhances physical fitness, mental health, and overall well-being.
• Management of Chronic Conditions: CR often improves management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Monitoring Progress

Patient progress during CR can be monitored through various measures such as improvements in physical fitness, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and overall quality of life. Regular assessments are conducted throughout the programme.

New Developments in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Recent advancements in cardiac rehabilitation include the use of telerehabilitation. This approach allows patients to exercise at home while being remotely monitored through devices like smartwatches that track heart rate and activity levels.

Community Awareness

Many people might not realise that CR is a vital resource available to them. If you’ve recently faced heart challenges, understanding CR could significantly benefit your recovery and long-term health. This is essential not just for managing heart disease but also for preventing future incidents.

Community-based centres like the SHF’s Heart Wellness Centres are here to support you by making CR accessible and tailored to your needs. Think of cardiac rehabilitation as your pathway to reclaiming a healthier, more active life. By participating in CR, you’re not just improving your heart health — you are also investing in your overall well-being and vitality. Let’s raise awareness together and encourage everyone to take this important step toward a healthier heart!

The SHF’s HWCs currently run the Heart Wellness Programme, which includes:

• Exercise Therapy
• Weight Management
• Nutrition Consultation
• Health & Nutrition Talk/Workshop

The HWC has played a major role in helping heart patients regain health and mobility, especially after a heart attack. Their recovery journey includes customised exercise programmes, counselling sessions with an in-house dietitian offering dietary advice and strong peer support from the Healthy Heart Support Group of the HWC community.

Typical programmes at restructured hospitals have limited time slots for exercise sessions, often during traditional office hours, and not on weekends. Hospital-based CR programmes also have a cutoff period (e.g., 1-2 months) by which patients are expected to complete the programme. In contrast, the programmes at SHF’s HWC offer greater flexibility, including Saturday classes. Furthermore, there is no cut-off period and when appropriate, patients could continue their exercise sessions beyond 1-2 months if needed.

Heart Wellness Centres’ Location

Bishan
9 Bishan Place
#07-01 Junction 8 (Office Tower)
Singapore 579837

Fortune Centre
190 Middle Road
#04-34 Fortune Centre (Retail Section)
Singapore 188979

Bukit Gombak
810 Bukit Batok West Avenue 5
#02-02 Bukit Gombak Sports Centre
Singapore 659088

Article is contributed by Asst Prof Yeo Tee Joo, Board Member of the Singapore Heart Foundation and Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS).