CHI St. Vincent marks Cardiac Rehab Week

As National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week closes out today, CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs has joined the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in recognizing the importance of this annual observance.

National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, Feb. 11-16, celebrates the lifesaving impact of cardiac rehabilitation, according to a news release. Throughout the week, CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs honored the role of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing the potentially devastating effects of heart disease and improving quality of life for patients and their families.

CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs' program is nationally certified by the AACVPR, according to Joshua Cook, media relations for Ghidotti Communications.

Beyond exercise, care includes help making lifestyle changes, catching heart abnormalities that may go unnoticed by using cardiac monitoring equipment during sessions, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation counseling, and personalized risk factor assessments.

Dr. Nazneen Tata, cardiologist for CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, said the operations he performs "are only the beginning. The real healing comes after that."

"People who follow-up with cardiac rehab have decreased mortality and a quicker, more full recovery," Tata said. "It is more than a gym membership offers, too. Nurses and a director are there to supervise each patient's exercise program and recovery."

Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, initiated AACVPR, coincides with both Valentine's Day and American Heart Month in an effort to draw greater national attention to heart health, the release said.

This year's theme, "Making Positive Changes, One Beat at a Time," honors the patients, families and health care professionals who are dedicated to cardiac rehabilitation as a vehicle for a healthy lifestyle.

Local on 02/16/2019

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