How does cardiac rehabilitation work?

Not just exercise: Cardiac rehab aims to get a heart patient back on his/her feet towards functional, healthy living. Part of this is supervised exercise, so that the patient can improve his/her conditioning, and also build confidence (often sorely lacking after a new cardiac diagnosis) that it is safe to exercise. Equally important is counselling on quitting smoking, changing diet habits, and losing weight.

Supervised exercise: Cardiac rehab is essentially supervised exercise. You are being monitored for signs of any trouble. The rehab nurse or doctor works with you closely to develop a plan to get your strength back and build up your aerobic fitness safely rather than trying to do it on your own. It is recommended for anyone who has had a cardiac event or surgery.