Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/258733
Myths and Misconceptions Participating in cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or cardiac surgery can be lifesaving. Medicare records reveal cardiac rehab attendees' mortality rate is 35 percent lower than non-participants, according to the American Heart Association. Other studies found that cardiac rehab reduced the number of patients' additional heart attacks by 15 to 25 percent. Myrna Lakner, MSN, RN, director of rehabilitation services at Huron Regional Medical Center, dispels three misconceptions she often hears from patients about the service. • Cardiac rehab is unnecessary for individuals whose jobs don't require much physical exertion – Wrong. Cooking, cleaning and simply moving around the home might require more effort for your heart than you realize. Cardiac rehab helps patients achieve their maximum activity level safely. Improving strength and endurance can make those everyday activities safer for individuals with heart problems. • One must be able to exercise at an athlete's level of intensity to participate – Wrong. Cardiac rehab is individualized to help patients discover their most comfortable activity level safely so they can make exercise a part of their daily routine. • Ladies don't exercise – Wrong. Many senior women are hesitant to exercise because their generation viewed physical activity as improper for women, but cardiac rehab is an important part of recovering from a cardiac event or surgery. Exercise is for everyone. continued from page 1 Sleep Apnea? 2 welloneconnection w w w . h u r o n r e g i o n a l . o r g Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects the way you breathe during sleep. More than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, and it puts them at an increased risk for chronic tiredness, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and obesity. A sleep study is the only way to diagnose sleep apnea with 100 percent certainty. Sleep specialists at Huron Regional Medical Center screen for sleep disorders and help patients manage them. Consider these questions: S Have you been told that you snore loudly? T Are you frequently tired during the day? O Has someone observed interrupted breathing when you sleep? P Do you have high blood pressure? Back in Action with CARDIAC REHAB If you answer yes to any question, talk to your physician about scheduling a sleep study. It may help improve your health and quality of life. Want More?