A program should be designed for your specific needs as determined by your physician's direction or by the program's medical director after a medical examination. Your exercise program should be put together by an exercise director with special training in working with heart patients. The center should be staffed with trained medical professionals and equipped with emergency equipment such as a defibrillator in good repair. At a minimum, pulse rate and blood pressure should be checked periodically during exercise. High-risk patients may initially require Holter monitoring to determine whether their heart rhythm is affected by the exercise program.
Exercise is only one component of rehabilitation.
Modification of other risk factors, including stress management, weight control, dietary changes and smoking cessation should also be an integral part of the cardiac rehab program. Meriden Midstate Hospital East Campus 435 Lewis Ave. The medical leadership for this program is provided by the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology. All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.