When can someone start cardiac rehabilitation?

When stable: As soon as the heart rhythm is stable and there is not a problem with chest pain on exertion or significant shortness of breath, rehab could be started. The patient should increase activities on a gradual basis and can progress as long as the exertion does not produce significant symptoms.

Generally: When they have recovered sufficiently from surgery or procedure to start exercise.

Cardiac rehab: Can start shortly after event with educational components of the program to begin to get patient in recovery mode. The physical training components require the rhythm and hemodynamics to be stable and the other parts of patients physiology to be functioning well. Often however patient isn't even referred till much later in their progress.