The atmosphere in cardiac rehabilitation is informal and supportive. Several men and women work out on a variety of exercise machines. They wear monitors with information on heart rate and blood pressure that are closely supervised by staff members. Other individuals are meeting with nutritionist Amy Patterson to learn how their eating habits may have contributed to poor heart health and how they can change that. Others listen to guidance from a stress reduction expert on ways to cope with stress at home and at work.
Patients come into the hospital because they have had a heart attack or are in danger of having one.
They are treated in a variety of ways that include medications, angioplasties and bypass surgeries. While these may take care of the initial heart problem, the issue that needs to be addressed after treatment is what caused the heart disease in the first place. We work together with our patients to help them gain a better understanding of the cause of their heart disease and guide them towards developing healthier lifestyles. West Bloomfield resident Susan Benson-Molnar is a star pupil in cardiac rehabilitation. On a recent cold, wintry Monday, Susan is warming up on the exercise bike.