Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardio-vascular is the biggest cause of death in the U.K today. The 4 major risk factors contributing to heart disease are:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol level
- Sedentary lifestyle
Lack of regular physical exercise has been found to be a major risk factor. Did you know that physically active men have less than half the risk of coronary heart disease compared with physically inactive men? There is now evidence that regular physical activity burning between 1500-2000 calories per week (equal to walking 15-20 miles per week) is associated not only with slowing the rate of progression of atherosclerotic plaque (hardening of the arteries with fatty deposits) but also with actual regression?
(Source; Shuler et al, 1992).
Blood pressure is also reduced by training by as much as 10mmHg for both systolic and diastolic pressures.
The National Health Service currently provides up to 8 weeks of free exercise prescription following a heart attack or bypass operation. This exercise programme is known as phase 3 and is under the supervision of physiotherapists at the hospital. After this period, the patient is left to their own devices without any professional assistance.
Emma is a phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation teacher and is trained to teach the patient after the initial 8 weeks. She is highly trained by Dr. Jenny Bell at the British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation.
