Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase IV: Long-Term Lifestyle Change-Topic Overview
Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase IV: Long-Term Lifestyle Change-Topic Overview
Phase IV is often referred to as the maintenance phase of cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), because it emphasizes long-term lifestyle changes, such as a regular exercise program. The program will help you practice and keep healthy behaviors and habits.
Your goals are to:
Phase IV programs are usually held at a community facility or at home and will be tailored to your specific needs.
Regular communication with your rehab staff or doctor for periodic reviews and assessments is an important part of phase IV. Your progress will be monitored by several rehab staff members. The number of rehab sessions you have each week will vary depending upon the structure of your program.
Your rate of recovery depends on age, gender, and other health conditions. Depending upon your condition and how you respond to rehab, you may stay in a certain phase or move back and forth among the phases. There is no set length of time that you must stay in a certain phase.
Your rehab staff will give you information and tools to enforce healthy habits, such as not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, and dealing with stress. You will also get tips on nutrition and taking your medicines.
Phase IV focuses on making lifestyle changes part of your everyday life.
Your goals are to:
- Learn lifestyle changes to lower your risk of future heart problems.
- Continue exercising to regain your physical function.
Phase IV programs are usually held at a community facility or at home and will be tailored to your specific needs.
Regular communication with your rehab staff or doctor for periodic reviews and assessments is an important part of phase IV. Your progress will be monitored by several rehab staff members. The number of rehab sessions you have each week will vary depending upon the structure of your program.
Your rate of recovery depends on age, gender, and other health conditions. Depending upon your condition and how you respond to rehab, you may stay in a certain phase or move back and forth among the phases. There is no set length of time that you must stay in a certain phase.
Lifestyle changes
Your rehab staff will give you information and tools to enforce healthy habits, such as not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, and dealing with stress. You will also get tips on nutrition and taking your medicines.
Phase IV focuses on making lifestyle changes part of your everyday life.
- You will learn how to monitor your symptoms and heart rate.
- Ask for written instructions-including how fast your heart rate should be-so you can easily refer to them as you become more independent.
- Support throughout your life is important. Joining an exercise group or a support group for nonsmokers may be helpful in maintaining lifestyle changes.
- If you exercise at home, make sure a health professional checks your progress.
- Education and support from nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, and doctors will help you continue making lifestyle changes during this phase.
- In group programs, other people in the rehab program may become your support group and help you make lifestyle changes.