Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation at UVM Health
Healthy habits and a long-term exercise program can make big differences for people living with heart or vascular disease. The cardiac rehabilitation program at University of Vermont Health offers a variety of options designed to help you create new heart-healthy habits and improve your quality of life.
Our cardiac rehab specialists are by your side to offer guidance, education and support as you make lifestyle changes that stick.
Why Choose UVM Health?
Highlights of our cardiac rehabilitation program include:
- A team of experts: Your cardiac rehab team includes doctors, nurses, physical therapists, exercise physiologists and other providers specialized in cardiac rehabilitation to support you in your journey to better health.
- A personalized plan: Your care plan is designed with your individual goals and needs in mind. Our program can help you regain strength, prevent heart conditions from worsening and reduce your risk of future heart problems.
- Long-term support: We want you to successfully maintain your healthy new habits into the future. For people who want extra support, we offer an extended phase of cardiac rehabilitation that provides a facility for long-term exercise.
Conditions We Treat with Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac rehabilitation is for people who have experienced heart problems or procedures such as:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Coronary angioplasty and stenting
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart transplant
- Heart valve replacement
- Peripheral arterial disease
What to Expect from Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac rehabilitation starts before you even leave the hospital after a heart or vascular procedure. At UVM Health, the program has three phases:
- Care in the hospital
- Outpatient cardiac rehab for three to six months after you leave the hospital
- Optional long-term exercise maintenance program
There are four main components to building your cardiac rehabilitation care plan:
- Medical evaluation: Your heart and vascular team knows your heart health best. They evaluate your physical abilities, your goals, medical limitations and overall health. This assessment helps the cardiac rehab team personalize a safe and effective rehabilitation plan just for you.
- Physical activity: A primary goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to improve your cardiovascular fitness. We design a plan that may include walking, cycling, jogging, rowing or other aerobic exercise that you enjoy. You may also do strength training to improve your muscle and bone strength.
- Lifestyle education: Lifestyle habits play a big role in heart health. Cardiac rehab includes an individualized plan of lifestyle changes that help reduce heart disease risk factors. Your plan may include recommendations for weight loss, tobacco cessation, nutritional counseling, stress management or cholesterol reduction.
- Support: Our team is with you every step of the way, and you’ll get to know other people who are also recovering from heart problems. A cardiac rehabilitation program can help you work through fear or anxiety as you find more motivation and energy to adopt an active lifestyle.
Cardiac rehab decreases hospitalization and mortality, improves your quality of life, and reduces the likelihood of a second cardiac event. It’s a simple program with a huge beneficial impact.
Wellness & Prevention
Evidence shows that proactive health care focused on preventing illness leads to better outcomes. We're here to help you live a healthier, happier life. We offer wellness and prevention services to empower you to take control of your health.
How Does Cardiac Rehab Improve Heart Health?
Participating in a cardiac rehab program can strengthen your heart, reduce symptoms of a heart condition and improve your recovery after an acute event like a heart attack. Studies have also shown that cardiac rehab can:
- Improve consistency in taking your heart medications as prescribed
- Lower your risk of depression
- Prevent complications of heart disease, including early death
- Reduce your chances of dying from a heart attack by about 35%
Awards & Certifications
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Our cardiac rehabilitation program is proud to be certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). AACVR is the national organization that evaluates cardiac rehabilitation programs. Our certification highlights our dedication to comprehensive cardiac rehab services that improve your quality of life.
American Heart Association Award – Get With The Guidelines
University of Vermont Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Get With The Guidelines® Resuscitation Quality Achievement Award. This award recognizes our commitment to treating cardiac arrest in hospital patients and improving survival outcomes.
Locations near you
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62 Tilley Drive
Suite 101
South Burlington, VT 05403
115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753
66 Park Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
133 Park Street
Malone, NY 12953
130 Fisher Road
Berlin, VT 05602
210 Cornelia Street
Ste 104
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
