What to Expect During Cardiac Rehab

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Phase 2 and Phase 3

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Phase 2: Exercise and Education

As soon as you’re ready (usually one to three weeks after being discharged), you’ll start an outpatient program at a major medical facility. Many people go back to the same hospital where they had their surgery, but if the location isn’t convenient you may find one closer to home. Most programs meet two to three times a week and last from one to three months.
           
You’ll be physically and psychologically assessed to see how you’re doing and to help determine what you need to accomplish. For all group exercise classes, you’ll be placed on a monitor similar to the one in the hospital. You can take classes and/or have private sessions on topics such as nutrition education, stress management, modifying risk factors, smoking cessation, managing high cholesterol, and diabetes. Most programs also offer support groups to help patients deal with the emotional aspects of heart disease.

Phase 3: Maintenance

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing challenge. Some people continue for a year—or for life—at a health center, paying the fees out of pocket (most insurance plans don’t cover this phase). Some people feel they’ve learned enough during phase 2 to continue their healthy lifestyles without the benefit of a health center. Either way, the emphasis here is to stay on track.