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Helping Hearts
Cardiac Rehabilitation program helps cardiac patients on the road
to recovery.
As if having a heart attack or open heart surgery isnt scary enough,
the most difficult times for heart patients often lie in the months that
follow their cardiac event. Recovery includes major lifestyle changes,
such as diet, exercise and medications which can be intimidating. To help
alleviate anxiety, Little Company of Mary offers a comprehensive cardiac
rehabilitation program. For more than 30 years, this program has helped
heart patients gain an understanding of their disease, as well as the
tools they need to lead healthy, productive lives.
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Carol Sukimoto checks in with patient Bill Meistrell.
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Our program is very structured, Carol Sukimoto, director of
cardiac rehabilitation said. We begin the first phase working with
patients in the hospital. We review their history and risk factors, explain
prescribed medications and give them instructions for home. We spend a lot
of time with them, discussing how to make changes that will keep their
hearts healthy.
In the second phase of the program, patients visit the Cardiac Rehabilitation
Center located in Redondo Beach. The initial appointment consists of an assessment
that often lasts an hour or more. Patients are also set up with their individual
exercise program, which typically consists of a one-hour session, three days a
week, for 12 to 18 weeks. Along with exercise, patients participate in classes
that address other lifestyle alterations such as nutrition, smoking cessation
and medication education.
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