Cardiac Rehab Help

Q: When my husband had coronary artery bypass surgery, he went to cardiac rehabilitation and did well. I am 65 years old and had one coronary bypass and repair of my mitral valve. I have not been able to get control of my life even though it has been months since my surgery. Could cardiac rehab help me? Why are men referred to cardiac rehab and not women?

A: Both women and men benefit from cardiac rehabilitation, which includes monitored exercise, stress management, psychological counseling, and education. With cardiac rehabilitation, you can improve your overall feeling of well-being and alleviate the depression some feel after heart surgery by improving your ability to exercise. Cardiac rehabilitation reduces the chance of dying from all causes, including heart-related reasons, by up to 20 percent. It isn’t clear why fewer women than men are referred. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for referral. Also visit the American Heart Association’s rehab Web site.

Jennifer H. Mieres, M.D., is director of nuclear cardiology and associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University. She’s also a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association.