Home Physical Therapy and a

Cardiac Event

What is a Cardiac Event?

According to The Mayo Clinic, “Sudden cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. The condition usually results from a problem with your heart’s electrical system, which disrupts your heart’s pumping action and stops blood flow to your body.

Sudden cardiac arrest isn’t the same as a heart attack, when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.

If not treated immediately, sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death. Survival is possible with fast, appropriate medical care. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using a defibrillator — or even just giving compressions to the chest — can improve the chances of survival until emergency workers arrive.

Symptoms

Signs of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and drastic and include:

• Sudden collapse
• No pulse
• No breathing
• Loss of consciousness

Sometimes other signs and symptoms occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might include:

• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart (palpitations)

But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.”

Is There Such A Thing As Cardiac Rehab?

According to the American Heart Association, “Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy living, and in many cases, counseling to reduce stress. It helps patients recover and improve physical, mental and social function. The goal is to stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of heart failure. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease, another cardiac event or death.

Cardiac rehab programs usually provide:

• A medical evaluation to determine your needs and limitations
• A physical activity program tailored to your needs and limits
• Counseling and education to help you understand your condition and how to manage it
• Support and training to help you return to work or your normal activities
• Counseling on modifying risk factors through diet and nutrition
• Counseling on the use of prescribed medications.”

Will Physical Therapy Help?

Choosept.com says, “Physical therapists design personalized treatment plans for each person’s needs, challenges, and goals. They help you:

• Improve your mobility.
• Manage pain and other chronic conditions.
• Recover from or prevent injury and chronic disease.

Your physical therapist will work with you and other members of your health care team to address problems caused by heart disease or heart failure.

Your physical therapy treatment plan will include a personalized exercise program and prescribed movement. This program will help you decrease the signs and symptoms of heart disease and/or failure. It also will improve your ability to take part in home, work, and other activities. Research shows that physical activity and exercise can improve exercise capacity. Physical activity and exercise also can help people with heart failure live longer than they would otherwise.”

Kinetic Therapy Service will help you recover healthier, happier and at home! Call us today at 580-279-1928 to get signed up for home physical therapy!