Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of recovery for patients who have had a recent heart event, such as heart attack, stent placement, open-heart surgery or valve repair/replacements, and more. Rehabilitation begins during your hospital stay and will continue on an outpatient basis after discharge.

Family members or caregivers are encouraged to be involved. Together, you’ll better understand your diagnosis and coping strategies.

To schedule an appointment, call 936-266-3130.

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation involves individualized, medically supervised exercise and education to decrease your risk of future heart events and increase your heart health knowledge.

Early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation includes an individualized exercise and education program where we monitor your heart rhythm, heart rate, and blood pressure while you exercise two to three days per week for approximately 12 weeks under the care of registered nurses and exercise physiologists following your recent heart event. Exercise components of each session include breathing techniques, flexibility movements, endurance training, and strength training.

During your initial evaluation, staff will review your current medical history, physical activity, nutritional habits, emotional health, and risk factors for heart disease and design an individualized program to assist you in reaching your goals post heart event. All patients are offered education on heart disease, nutrition, home exercise, and medications. To enroll, patients will need an order from their physician. Contact us at 936-266-3142.

The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to improve quality of life by helping patients:

• Understand their heart condition.
• Reduce the risk of future heart complications through lifestyle changes, including exercise, eating habits, and smoking cessation.
• Learn to manage stress and conserve energy.
• Improve emotional well-being and self-confidence.

The benefits of the program include:

• Decreasing your chances of another heart attack or cardiac event.
• Controlling heart disease symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
• Stopping, slowing, or reversing damage to the blood vessels in your heart.
• Lessening the physical and emotional effects of heart disease.
• Improving your stamina and strength and returning to your usual activities, including work, hobbies, and regular exercise.

After completing and graduating from early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, CHI St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital offers a self-pay independent exercise program on campus for patients to continue their exercise routine in a medically supervised location. Please contact us to request additional information at 936-266-3142.

Supervised Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease (SET PAD)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is associated with discomfort, pain, or fatigue in your legs due to plaque buildup that limits blood flow to your limbs. New research supports the use of exercise therapy as a treatment option for patients who are diagnosed with PAD and experience symptoms with activity.

SET PAD is an individualized exercise program designed specifically to improve your functional capacity and limit your symptoms associated with PAD. Patients who enroll are expected to exercise with us three days per week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Their exercise will include treadmill walking, as well as other aerobic exercises, and strength training. Patients will also receive education on PAD, how to decrease your risk of PAD and coronary artery disease, how to manage symptoms of PAD, and proper foot/leg care. To enroll, patients will need an order from their physician. Contact us at 936-266-3142.

Metabolic Syndrome Program

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that increase the chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. This eight to 12-week program combines education and exercise to decrease your risk of various diseases and hospitalizations. This program is led by a registered clinical exercise physiologist and certified nutrition coach. The program meets two to three times a year, and spots are limited. Call today to learn more and reserve your spot: 936-266-3142.