Recovering from a heart ‘event’ such as a heart attack, stent insertion or bypass surgery can feel overwhelming but thanks to the South Eastern Trust’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team patients are regaining their strength, confidence and taking practical steps towards positive heart health.
Combining gentle exercise, education and support, the eight-week programme, held at Lisburn’s Lagan Valley Leisureplex aids recovery and empowers the patient with the knowledge they need to help reduce their risk of heart disease further.
Putting his dumbbells to good use, Victor Gibson, who is from Hillsborough, had two stents inserted just nine weeks ago. Now in week six of the class, the 80-year-old described how the team have encouraged and guided him to improve his heart health.
Victor said, “I’m really getting a lot out of the classes, they are helping me to keep moving and the staff are very, very helpful. The staff at Lagan Valley Hospital explained to me about the rehab classes and I thought to myself, ‘Why not?’ I would say to anyone who is thinking about coming, definitely do it – no doubt about it.”
Fellow participant Derek Mulligan from Lisburn explained how he suffered a cardiac event in February of this year. “I didn’t have any symptoms and then one night I couldn’t breathe. I ended up in A&E and then started going to Cardiology and they mentioned about the class. I thought I would definitely give it a go,” said Derek.
Derek continued, “The classes make a big difference. The difference has even shown up on my heart ECHO. The staff are class and this is week seven out of eight for me. I am feeling a lot better than I was.”
Putting the participants through their paces, South Eastern Trust Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist Alanna Rogan added, “We see people who have had a cardiac ‘event’, such as a heart attack, having stents inserted or even bypass surgery. The classes help patients regain their confidence as cardiac events can be a big shock for many. A lot of people don’t know what they can and can’t do anymore following a cardiac event.”
“At the classes we use a mix of cardio vascular and cardio exercises. The team progress things over that eight week period to build up that fitness and confidence again.”
Alanna stated how she and the team talk to the patient about, “Cholesterol, blood pressure, weight loss and even stress management. We do this in order to support them and reduce their risk of heart disease further.”
For anyone who might be feeling a sense of trepidation on attending their first class, Alanna said, “The hardest part is walking in on the first day. We meet the participants at Lagan Valley Hospital for their initial assessment and give them a lot of information beforehand and let them know that everyone is at different levels, it is a real variance of abilities. We tailor the exercises to all different levels.
“Those who are coming to class are getting that contact from us and those who attend every week. The patient is not just left to their own devices to recover after this has happened to them so it is very much about reassurance too.”
South Eastern Trust Cardiac Rehab Co-ordinator Luna Cousins explained how the focus of the service, “Is preventative rather than cure.”
“The main focus of the exercise programme is to empower our patients to take responsibility to manage their condition and improve their quality of life.”
