"Walk Often and Walk Far" – A New Approach to Cardiac Rehabilitation

Four middle-aged people (2 men and 2 women) walking. In the 1970s, a typical cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) patient would undergo a lengthy hospitalization and was extremely deconditioned. Cardiac rehab protocols were developed with low calorie expenditures that reduced cardiac and total mortality in patients. Today, more than 80% of cardiac rehab patients are overweight, with over 40% classified as obese. More than 50% have insulin resistance. The focus of cardiac rehab has shifted to secondary prevention and risk reduction, yet programs still rely on protocols developed in the 1970's. How successful would a new protocol that focuses on greater weight loss and risk factor change be?

Read a summary of the research study

Tip Sheet

Risk Assessment Tool for Estimating 10-year Risk of Developing Hard Coronary Heart Disease

This risk assessment tool uses data from the Framingham Heart Study to estimate 10-year risk for "hard" coronary heart disease outcomes (myocardial infarction and coronary death). This tool is designed to estimate risk in adults aged 20 and older who do not already have heart disease or diabetes.

Try the online calculator

NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI)

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that helps improve the health and well-being of people who have heart problems. Rehab programs include exercise training, education on heart healthy living, and counseling to reduce stress and help patients return to an active life. Rehab can help people who have had a heart attack, angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass grafting for coronary heart disease, heart valve repair or replacement, a heart transplant or a lung transplant, or stable angina.

Learn more about cardiac rehab

Resources

Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs: Physician Quick Reference Card

This handy card gives physicians and other health care providers talking points for discussing heart attack warning signs and survival steps with patients.

Aim for a Healthy
Weight Provider Kit

This education kit offers health care providers tools to help identify, assess, and manage overweight and obese patients to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs: Small Group
Session Kit

The "talk-in-a-box" contains everything needed to quickly and easily plan and conduct a compelling 1-hour small group session on heart attack survival.

Archived page, reproduced from a 2011 copy. It is reference material, not current guidance.