Rebuilding Heart & Mind
Everything in moderation—if you ask Michael Mavrides, that’s the key to staying healthy and the most important lesson he learned from the Lancaster General Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. “You need to do physical exercise and maintain a healthy diet. You can’t do one without the other,” he says.
Michael realized the importance of diet and exercise while enrolled in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. In August 2001, Michael had open-heart surgery. Shortly thereafter, he enrolled in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Michael has been out of the program for more than a year but feels his time in the program was critical to his long-term success. “The heart surgery saved my life and the cardiac rehabilitation program has helped me to stay healthy,” he says. “I would say it was 1,000% worth it.”
Cardiac Rehab, which is nationally certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), looks like a state-of-the-art fitness center with exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and weight machines. But it offers much more. Exercise Physiologists and Cardiac Nurses serve as case managers, developing an individualized plan of care tailored to the specific needs, capabilities and goals of each patient. The plan may include: aerobic exercise for cardiovascular fitness; resistance training; blood sugar checks for diabetic patients; work simulation; patient education for risk factor modification; stress reduction class; diet classes by a registered dietitian; spouse support classes; psychosocial assessment; and support for lifestyle changes
Michael started with a twice-a-week schedule and progressed to three times a week. Each session starts with a group warm-up. Patients then begin their own tailored program. All patients are constantly monitored to determine if they are putting forth enough effort without overexertion. The nurses work in conjunction with the Exercise Physiologists to ensure the progress and safety of each patient. For some patients, the structured, supervised environment is just what they need to make lifestyle improvements.
At the end of the structured 8-12 week program, patients are evaluated to determine if they reached their goals. Before embarking on an independent wellness program, some patients choose to attend an optional Transitional Program that enables patients to establish their own routine gradually.