Cardiac Rehabilitation

Your well-defined path to recovery

If you are recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or other medical procedure, Novant Health’s three-month cardiac rehabilitation program provides you with a well-defined and customizable path for healing.

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What is cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a holistic program designed to help you recover from a heart attack, heart surgery or heart disease. This medically supervised program lasts three months and focuses on activities and education encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

If you've had a heart attack or heart surgery, your rehabilitation will begin during your hospitalization. This is the first of four progressive cardiac rehabilitation phases — acute, initial outpatient monitoring, intensive outpatient recovery, and maintenance — as you return to more normal activities. The three-month cardiac rehabilitation program will help you:   

  • Strengthen your heart  
  • Lower blood pressure and cholesterol 
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Control diabetes 
  • Improve your quality of life
  • Regain a sense of control over your life

5 ways cardiac rehabilitation can help you 

Exercise and fitness plan

The primary goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to strengthen your heart. You'll learn cardiac rehabilitation exercises and activities to help build endurance and stamina under the supervision of our certified exercise experts.  

Heart-healthy diet and nutrition

Learn how nutrition affects your health, how to make healthy food choices and strategies for planning nutritious meals. 

Weight management 

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your heart's workload and stress. It also decreases the risk of stroke or developing diabetes and certain types of cancer. 

Better numbers

With increased activity and a healthy diet, you'll be on track to control your cholesterol and blood pressure and manage or prevent diabetes. 

Emotional support 

Learn coping strategies and feel supported at every step of your cardiac rehabilitation program. 

Cardiac rehabilitation team 

You’ll work with a team of exercise specialists, cardiac nurses and registered dietitians under the supervision of a cardiologist.  

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One Patient’s Story

See how Reggie Wilson worked with cardiac rehabilitation therapists at Novant Health to recover from a heart attack.