People living with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) experience heart symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. When medication and doctor visits aren’t enough, a cardiac rehabilitation program can help. Cardiac rehab takes a holistic approach to strengthening the heart, by coaching patients through exercises, behavior changes and education.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program for patients living with cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure and congenital heart disease. It is designed to prevent rehospitalization and improve cardiovascular function. Better quality of life, lower mortality and reduced healthcare costs are also key benefits.
During a cardiac rehab program, you’ll work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals including cardiac nurses, dietitians, cardiologists, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and behavioral therapists.
Many programs have three phases:
- Inpatient, which starts when you’re in the hospital after a heart event.
- Outpatient, where you’ll have sessions two or three times a week for eight to 12 weeks.
- Long-term maintenance, which supports your health for years to come.
The outpatient phase is often what people think of when talking about a cardiac rehab program. These sessions often take place in a hospital or rehab center, though there are now home-based options as well.
Your first session will include an initial assessment of your cardiovascular fitness and a discussion of your current heart health. From this information the rehabilitation team will put together a personalized program of physical activity and education.
Many sessions will focus on exercises to strengthen your heart. You will also meet with a dietician to learn about healthy food choices. You may also receive counseling to support your mental health, weight management, blood pressure management and efforts to quit smoking, among other topics. Some sessions, especially those on exercise, may be in a group setting; this often gives patients the opportunity to connect with others who are dealing with the same set of challenges.
How does cardiac rehabilitation help in ATTR-CM?
Results have shown that cardiac rehabilitation programs improve cardiac function and health-related quality of life in people living with ATTR-CM.
A cardiac rehabilitation program has benefits that patients might not find if they try to live a healthier lifestyle on their own. They will practice low-impact physical activity that is specifically designed not to cause overexertion, and is supervised by a medical professional. Patients will also learn to manage the burden of living with a chronic rare disease through counseling, stress management and advice for protecting mental health.
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