Virtual Word Publishing

Bestselling Author - PR Coaching and PR Services

  • Meet Diana Ennen
    • Need a Speaker?
    • In The News
  • Books
    • Online Bookstore
  • PR and Marketing Services
    • Book Marketing – Author Support
    • Speakers Support
    • Real Estate Marketing / Real Estate Services
    • Resume Writing / Cover Letter Writing / Resume Services
    • Entrepreneur Support – Small Business Support
    • Virtual Assistants Support
    • PR Reviews
  • Coaching and Classes
    • Marketing Consulting Services – PR Coaching
    • Virtual Assistant Coaching
    • PR Success Webinar Series
  • Testimonials
    • Meet Our Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact

Diana Ennen February 22, 2006

Begin a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program For a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

Two months after my open-heart surgery, through my cardiologist’s referral, I was cleared to begin a physician-sponsored cardiac rehabilitation program – a program of exercise and risk-factor education for individuals recovering from serious heart procedures and heart disease.

Some patients are healed enough to begin sooner, some later. The gym facility where I live in Santa Fe, NM, called the Center for Living Well, is spaciously housed in the basement of our one hospital. In the last thirty years, thousands of cardiac rehabilitation programs have sprung up far and wide in the U.S. alone, all featuring similar characteristics.

In my book, The Open Heart Companion: Preparation and Guidance for Open-Heart Surgery Recovery (Open Heart Publishing, 2006) I advise, “systematically increase your walking every day, to the point where you can visualize and look forward to the strength retraining and aerobic stamina offered in a good cardiac rehabilitation program. Once your doctor finally approves you for cardiac rehab, you will discover what may be a new experience, or the reawakening of an old pleasure — going to the gym!”

Beginning a cardiac rehabilitation program is truly an exciting moment. I was finally up to moving my body for real. I knew I had made tangible progress or I wouldn’t be there. I was assigned an exercise physiologist, or case manager. After a general orientation (completing a detailed questionnaire, learning to take my pulse, oxygen usage and rhythm monitoring guidelines) I was given a personal exercise worksheet. Preferably three times a week for one hour, I was to track my gentle progress forward in a customized program — using the treadmill, bike, stairs, UBE machine (aerobic ergometer), and so on. Adding weight training to the regimen was to come later, at the discretion of my case manager. In addition, numerous classes (stretching, therabands, free weights) and support groups (smoking cessation, stress management, osteoporosis and diet education) were all available in the package. Once a month there was an “Ask the Cardiologistâ€� Q&A hosted by one of the New Mexico Heart Institute cardiologists. Most of all, the staff were caring, devoted, highly attentive, good-humored professionals. There was a palpable air of camaraderie and developing friendships that evolved into a memorable support group experience for me.

I was accepted into the program provided I agreed to wear a wireless heart monitor during exercise. What a good thing! My heart was still ricocheting in and out of irregular rhythm (atrial fibrillation). There was always someone at a computer screen monitoring my rhythm. If, as is more likely with exertion, my a-fib returned, even if I didn’t notice, a nurse or exercise physiologist would check in with me. How was I feeling? Did I feel lightheaded? Did I need to slow down? Maybe end my session for the day? Your pulse is x, let’s check your blood pressure.… Since a patient’s inclination may be to push through (my common approach in the past), the permission to simply stop, give yourself a break, can be welcome. I felt completely taken care of. With so many dedicated professionals around me, and the new friends I was making, I could never run too far into trouble. Although physically challenging at times, the cardiac rehab environment made for a positive, confidence-returning experience.

In the book, Heart Attack: Advice for Patients by Patients (Yale University Press, 2002), most of the eleven contributors go out of their way to rave about their cardiac rehab program experience. “The highlight of my day…�, “I credit the program with getting my life back on track…�, “I’ve been a member now for ten years and I know it is keeping me healthy…�, “My wife is now in the program with me. We’ve made some great friends….� The social and emotional support received can be priceless. Rather than returning to one’s previous gym or yoga class, many heart patients take advantage of ongoing membership in their cardio-directed program.

Copyright (C) 2006 Maggie Lichtenberg. All Rights Reserved

===========

Maggie Lichtenberg, PCC, a recent open-heart surgery thriver, is an open heart coach to heart patients and their loved ones, a professional speaker, and frequently published author. To subscribe to her free online newsletter, Heart To Heart, send a blank email message to UrnegGbUrneg-Ba@mvarf.jroinyrapr.pbz. To learn more about Maggie’s free phone support group and other programs go to http://www.openheartcoach.com. Article is free to reprint as long as author’s bio remains intact.

Posted by Diana – www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Filed Under: Articles

About the Author

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com, where she offers PR and Marketing, book marketing, PR and Virtual Assistant Coaching, VA services, writing and editing, ghost writing, and so much more.   She has been featured in all major media including Forbes, Fox, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Radio, Woman's World Magazine, and too many to mention and gets her clients in these publications as well. Email her for more information at qvnan@iveghnyjbeqchoyvfuvat.pbz. Posting is free to be reprinted as long as this bio remains.

About Diana

Diana Ennen

A leader in the PR and VA Industry, Diana is the one to turn to when your books or products aren’t selling or the lack of clients is hampering your business success. Her proven marketing and coaching techniques will get you where you need to be and FAST!

Read More

Sign Up for Our Free PR Tips

Sign up for our free PR tips and also get our PR Informational package.

More Testimonials

Bestseller – VA The Series

Online Bookstore

The best-selling Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA is considered the Bible of the VA Industry. Now in over 50 colleges!

As Featured In

  • Fox News
  • MSNBC
  • USA Today
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Forbes
  • Womans World

Recent Posts

  • Virtual Assistants Are Key in Helping Authors with their Book Marketing
  • My Interview on the Work at Home Show – Part Two
  • My Interview on the Work From Home Show
  • 10 Tips for Working Virtually – Setting Up Your Business to Work From Home
  • PR and Marketing Tips – Becoming and Staying the Expert

Search

Connect Online

facebooklinkedintwitteremail

Copyright © 2023 · Virtual Word Publishing • (954 971-4025 • Contact Diana • Site design by Arts Assistance