| For new and current patients |
| For referring professionals |
| Q. | How effective is cardiac rehab? |
| A. | There is lots of evidence that suggests that a medically-supervised course of exercise and education will improve cardiovascular strength and fitness, reduce anxiety and stress, reduce chances of another heart attack, and even add years to their life. If you'd like more information on the benefits and efficacy of cardiac rehab visit the websites of Cardiac Care Network of Ontario or the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. |
| Q. | I have a busy agenda. Do I need to attend every exercise class? |
| A. | To fully benefit from the program
it is important that you attend scheduled classes. We
have morning, afternoon, and evening class times so you
should be able to find a time that is convenient. While
most of the work is completed outside of class, scheduled
classes are a good opportunity to meet with other patients,
talk with your cardiac rehab supervisor about your progress,
listen to scheduled lectures, and meet with other health
care professionals (dietician, social worker, psychologist)
as needed.
In total, you should be carrying out your exercise prescription five days a week --once at your scheduled class and four more times on your own. |
| Q. | Are the group exercise sessions like an aerobics class? What if I can't keep up? |
| A. | Don't worry. The only person
you are competing against is yourself. You walk at your
own pace according to your individual exercise prescription.
Before you start the exercise classes you must complete
a cardiopulmonary exercise assessment. This test establishes
a baseline measure of your fitness level. It allows us
to develop a safe exercise training program tailored to
your needs and abilities.
When you and your cardiac rehab supervisor think you can do more, your exercise prescription will be increased. |
| Q. | I don't drive. How will I get to my exercise classes? |
| A. | While it is true that most patients either drive to the centre or ask a family member or friend for a ride, some of our patients do come by TTC. If that is not possible for you we would be happy to help you find a cardiac rehab program located closer to your home. |
| Q. | Is parking available? |
| A. | For patients that do drive, there is ample parking available. A parking pass, good for the entire year, may be purchased for only $50 - or daily parking is available for $5. |
| Q. | Is the program simply an exercise class? What other services do you offer? |
| A. | Exercise -- walking, in particular
-- is a big part of the cardiac rehab program, but it
is only one part. Each class consists of a lecture on
heart health and related topics with an opportunity to
ask questions, a pre-walk warm-up and stretching session,
and your individual exercise prescription. The entire
class takes about 2 hours.
We also offer a resistance training program (handheld weights). Resistance training improves muscular strength and endurance, and can result in enhanced self-image and greater protection against injury. Toronto Rehab's cardiac program also has a number of additional services that patients may benefit from including one-to-one counselling and group sessions. |
| Q. | Can I use a treadmill to do my exercise prescription? |
| A. | Yes, a treadmill can be used
to carry out your exercise prescription provided you ensure
that the walking surface is flat, i.e. no slope.
If you plan to use a treadmill, please speak to your cardiac rehab supervisor and get advice on the appropriate treadmill speed to match your exercise prescription pace. |
| Q. | Where can I walk in bad weather? |
| A. | Avoid exercising outside in
extreme weather. It's a good idea to find a climate controlled
facility. That is, air conditioned for hot, humid weather
and heated for cold, snowy weather.
Shopping malls are a good option for carrying out your exercise prescription, if you do not have access to an indoor fitness facility, track or treadmill. A large selection of mall maps available at our reception area. |
| Q. | When can I start other activities such as swimming, golfing and gardening? |
| A. | Patients should be well established with their exercise program before starting or continuing with other activities. Please discuss the suitability of other activities with your cardiac rehab supervisor. Remember that different activities require different levels of fitness, skill and experience. |
| Q. | How much can I lift? |
| A. | As long as you do not have to
hold your breath when lifting, you can lift most objects
for daily living, e.g. garbage, groceries.
A resistance (weight) training program is offered to patients after three months with the program. |
| Q. | Can I use the track at Toronto Rehab at times other than my scheduled class? |
| A. | Unfortunately, the track is only available to you during your class time. To ensure patient safety, staff must be present whenever the track is in use. |
| Q. | Should I avoid fat in my diet? |
| A. | No! You need to include some fat in your diet to stay healthy. Fats that you can include are liquid vegetable oils (e.g. olive, canola, sunflower, safflower, corn), nuts and seeds. Fats you should avoid are saturated (animal) fats and transfats (e.g. shortening, hydrogenated fats/oils). |
| Q. | Is it true that stress can be harmful to your heart? |
| A. | A high level of stress over a prolonged period of time can be harmful to the heart. Stress may affect the heart directly by causing irregular heart beats, uncontrolled blood vessel contractions, thickening of the blood causing a clot or high blood pressure. In addition, stress can indirectly affect the heart by contributing to increases in blood pressure and to the build-up of plaque on blood vessel walls (hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis). Over a prolonged period, this can overtax the heart and blood vessels, adding to the risk of heart disease and stroke. |
| Q. | What can I do to manage stress? |
| A. | The key to reducing stress is not to get rid of all stress, but in learning how to manage the body's response to harmful stress situations. Identifying stressful situations and what causes them are good ways to start gaining control. Ask yourself: Can anything be done about them? Can the situation be avoided? Can it be changed? Is it possible to change your attitude and accept the situations that can't be changed? |
| Q: | How quickly will you be able to see patients that I refer? |
| A: |
We have intakes starting every month. If the patient is suitable for our program, we can usually admit them for a cardiopulmonary exercise assessment within a couple of weeks of receiving a completed referral form. Note that attaching a 12-lead ECG and discharge summary will speed up the process. |
| Q: | What patient populations do you accept? |
| A: |
The majority of our patients are admitted post cardiac event and referred directly by their cardiologist or family physician from an acute care hospital. We see patients following a heart attack, cardiac surgery, angioplasty, angina or congestive heart failure or transplant. We also see patients whom you think would benefit from cardiac rehab and who may have had a cardiac incident in the past year. Individuals at high risk of heart disease due to family history or documented risk factors are also ideal candidates for cardiac rehab. Individuals with a history of stroke or sleep apnea may also benefit from cardiac rehab. Cardiac rehab has been found to significantly improve heart function as research shows that sleep apnea may result in stroke and reduced heart capacity. |
| Q: | Will I be kept informed of patients' progress? |
| A: |
Yes. As a partner in the service we provide, rest assured
that it is our aim to keep you informed of your patients'
progress throughout the length of the program. That
is why we send you copies of exercise test results and
other monitoring that is carried out. |
| Q: | How effective is cardiac rehab? Is it safe for patients with a history of heart problems? |
| A: |
There is lots of evidence that suggests that a medically-supervised course of exercise and education will improve cardiovascular strength and fitness, reduce anxiety and stress, reduce chances of another heart attack, and even add years to life. Need more information on the benefits and efficacy of cardiac rehab visit the websites of Cardiac Care Network of Ontario or the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. |