Overview
Cardiac Rehabilitation, as defined by WHO in 1964, is "the sum of activities required to ensure cardiac patients the best possible physical, mental and social conditions so that they may, by their own efforts, resume and maintain as normal a place as possible in the community."
A cardiac rehabilitation programme aims to do just that, to guide and support our cardiac patients along their road to recovery so that they may add more years to their life and life to years.
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What is this programme about?
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As risk factor and lifestyle modifications are important to successful cardiac rehabilitation, this programme offers medically supervised exercise programme, education and lifestyle modification aimed at providing patients with the information, motivation and support they need to adopt and maintain heart-healthy habits.
The ultimate goals of the programme are to limit the physiological effects of cardiac illness and to improve overall cardiovascular fitness and health.
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Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme is a comprehensive programme, which consists of 3 components - Education, Counseling and Prescribed Exercise Training.
The 3 components of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme
Education
We provide information on the disease condition, treatment modalities, importance of risk factor modification and home advice. We conduct individual teaching as well as group teaching.
Counseling
We provide constant support and advice to patients and their spouses or family members. Most patients and their family are struck with many uncertainties eg. fear of having another heart event, coping with lifestyles changes, worrying about hospital expenses or future follow-up cost. Knowing that there is a team that will be present to guide them through their road to recovery has proven to be beneficial and effective.
Prescribed exercise training
Each patient will be exercised on intensity based on his or her individualised calculated target heart rate in a progressive manner. Patients are also taught how to exercise safely. Maintaining a lifelong exercise routine is constantly being reinforced.
Heart Rehab gym at the NUHCS
The Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme
| Phases |
Duration |
Component(s) |
| Inpatient |
During hospital stay |
- Lifestyle Modification Education
|
| Outpatient |
6 and up to 36 sessions as per medical team recommendation |
- Exercise Rehabilitation
- Educational Talks (in group session)
- Healthy Eating
- Doing Exercise the Right Way
- Medication
- Stress Management
- Coping with changes
- Understanding Heart Artery Disease
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Community -Based
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Lifelong |
Healthy Lifestyle Maintenance
|
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Who are the members of the cardiac rehabilitation team?
They are a team of professionals from different disciplines, including cardiologist, physiotherapist, cardiac rehab nurses, pharmacist, dietitian, occupational therapist and social worker.
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Who will benefit from this programme?
You will benefit from this programme if you have had one of the following:
- A heart attack
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) - Ballooning / Stenting
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
- Valve surgery
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
- Treatment for other heart conditions:
- Heart failure
- High risk coronary artery disease
- Post electrophysiology (EP) / device implantation
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How do I join this programme?
A referral from your physician is required to participate in the programme. You will need to consult your cardiologist before starting this programme.
For more information, please contact the cardiac rehabilitation nurses:
- Lai Shuet Ming - 67725563
- Nancy Ooi Lean See / Ng Hsuen Nin - 67722497
- Ong Mui Cheu - 67722436
Where can I go upon completion of this programme?
After completion of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme in NUHCS, all cardiac rehabilitation participants should continue to join the lifelong maintenance exercise programme at the heart support group or community-based wellness centre.
Heart Support Group (NUHCS)
Caring Hearts Support Group: A Voluntary Initiative by Patients of NUHCS. Membership is FREE!
For more information, please visit Patient Support Programme.
Community-Based Wellness Centre
Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF)
The SHF Heart Wellness Centre is the only institution in Singapore, which runs a structured community-based cardiac rehabilitation programme. The Centre offers a wide range of facilities, equipment and multidisciplinary healthcare expertise to assist patients with heart problems, providing them with support for life-long maintenance of their exercise habits and risk factor modification.
For more information, please visit the website at: http://www.myheart.org.sg/
SHF (Singapore Heart Foundation) Heart Support Group
The Heart Support Group of the SHF Heart Wellness Centre provides invaluable peer support to heart patients and their families adjusting to life after a heart attack and motivation to maintain healthier lifestyles. It also acts as a platform for its members to mingle by regularly organising local and overseas outings (e.g. farm trips, nature walks) for its members and their families.
| Contact: |
SHF-Isetan Foundation Heart Wellness Centre |
| Tel: |
6354 9348 / 9370 |
| Email: |
rehab@heart.org.sg |
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Where can I learn life-saving skills in Singapore?
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) course are available at National Resuscitation Council.
For more information, please visit the website at https://www.nrcsingapore.com/
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