Perry County Memorial Hospital celebrates Cardiac Rehabilitation week | Business

PERRYVILLE, MO (KFVS)  – Perry County Memorial Hospital is hosting Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, February 10-16, to celebrate the life-saving impact of cardiac rehabilitation.

During this week, PCMH will focus on the role of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing the potentially devastating effects of heart disease and improving quality of life for patients and their families.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, initiated by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, coincides with both Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month in an effort to draw greater national attention to heart health.

This year’s theme, “Healing Hearts and Touching Lives,” honors the patients, families, and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to cardiac rehabilitation as a vehicle for a healthy lifestyle.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services are medically supervised and monitored exercise and educational programs for individuals with heart disease or chronic lung disease. Through cardiopulmonary rehab services, participants are helped to safely reach and maintain their optimal level of exercise and activity.

More specifically, cardiac rehab is a program designed to optimize a cardiac patient's physical, psychosocial and social functioning. Pulmonary rehab programs are designed to help patients with chronic lung disease reduce symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue, increase muscle strength and endurance, and increase their ability to do daily activities with less effort while improving the overall physical, emotional and social effects of decreased lung capacity.

Candidates for cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation include people who:

• Have had myocardial infarctions (heart attacks).
• Are recovering from cardiovascular surgery.
• Have at least two major risk factors for coronary artery disease.
• Have lung disease (COPD, emphysema and asthma).

A doctor's referral is necessary for admission to the program.

Cardiopulmonary Rehab also offers other services to the public, including:

• Diabetes education.
• Cardiology clinics.
• Monthly cholesterol clinics.
• Pacemaker clinics.
• Holter monitor and event monitors.
• Stress testing.
• Blood pressure checks for outpatients.

For more information regarding cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services offered at Perry County Memorial Hospital, call 573-768-3239 or visit www.pchmo.org.

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