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What does cardiac rehabilitation comprise of?

Education

The aim is to help you understand your condition and assist you in making healthy lifestyle choices, which may help reduce your risk of further heart problems.

The education component includes information regarding:

  • The different types of heart conditions such as coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack and heart valve disease.
  • Treatments for heart conditions, including heart surgery, cardiac procedures such as angioplasty and stents and cardiac medications.
  • Coronary heart disease risk factors and what you can do to help reduce your own personal risk factors.
  • Healthy lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, stopping smoking and physical activity.
  • Managing stress and looking after our emotional wellbeing.

The education can be received either face to face in a group and/or by accessing our online education talks in the comfort of your home or through written literature. We also offer a home based cardiac rehabilitation programme, if appropriate.  

 

Exercise

Regular exercise or structured physical activity can help with your recovery, confidence, as well as improving your fitness and general wellbeing.

Exercise is a safe and effective treatment for your heart and when performed regularly reduces your chances of further cardiac problems.

Prior to being given advice on exercise, a Physiotherapist or exercise specialist will usually assess you so that the exercises will be within your own capabilities.

If eligible, an exercise plan can then be provided to you in a few ways:

  • Home exercise plan via YouTube.
  • Home based cardiac rehabilitation in a booklet or digital version.
  • Gym based exercise classes (in a group setting).

 

Emotional wellbeing support

Support to return to meaningful occupations

The Occupational Therapists within cardiac rehabilitation can support you to get back to your normal routines and activities, work alongside you to achieve your goals and support you in learning new ways to manage your condition. 

  • Pacing and planning strategies to manage fatigue.
  • Support to plan your return to work including written recommendations to your employer.
  • Coping strategies to reduce stress and anxiety and get you back to normal routines.
  • Seeking new activities and hobbies that get you meeting new people and help with low mood.

The Occupational Therapists offer individual appointments and also groups which provide you with the opportunity to meet with other people who have been through the same thing as you, which some people find very helpful.

 

Cardiac rehabilitation psychology service

The Psychologist within cardiac rehabilitation works with individuals on a range of psychological difficulties which can occur after experiencing a cardiac event including; depression, anxiety, overcoming the trauma and/or shock of diagnosis, loss of confidence and difficulty in adjustment. 

The Psychologist can conduct a psychological assessment to support the individual and/or the cardiac rehabilitation team to develop an understanding of any psychological or social factors which may need addressing as part of their cardiac rehabilitation. Individual psychological therapy, group therapy and/or psychoeducational intervention can be provided.

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.

We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.