Cardiac rehabilitation (patient information)


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Overview
A cardiac rehabilitation program may help you with:


 * Understanding risk factors for heart disease and how to reduce them
 * Improving the ability to cope with stress (anger management)
 * Lowering blood pressure
 * Understanding mechanism, effects and side effects of medications and possible drug interactions.
 * Strengthening the heart and cardiovascular system
 * Gaining a great sense of well-being and self confidence
 * Improving daily physical activity

What to eat at the restaurant?

 * Ask about low-fat or fat-free choices.
 * Ask the server to make substitutions like steamed vegetables instead of French fries.
 * Use the basic guidelines of your healthy eating plan when choosing a main dish. Pick lean meat, fish or skinless chicken.
 * Make sure your entrée is broiled, baked, grilled, steamed or poached instead of fried.
 * Order vegetable side dishes and ask that any sauces or butter be left off.
 * Ask for low-calorie salad dressing or a lemon to squeeze on your salad instead of dressing.
 * Ask for baked, boiled or roasted potatoes instead of fried. And ask for them without the butter and sour cream.
 * Order fresh fruit or fruit sorbet in place of cake, pie or ice cream.
 * When it seems that everything on the menu is “off limits,” ask if the chef will make you a fruit or vegetable platter. Most chefs are happy to do so.

What to avoid at the restaurant?

 * Push the butter out of your way or ask that it be removed. Ask for soft margarine instead.
 * Order your dressings and sauces on the side so you can control how much you use.
 * Stay away from fried appetizers and creamy soups. Begin your meal with broth-based soup like minestrone or gazpacho.
 * At salad bars, stay away from high-fat items like cheese, cream dressings, chopped eggs, croutons, olives and bacon bits.
 * Ask that your food be made without butter or cream sauces. You’ll be surprised at how delicious meat, fish and chicken can be when broiled “dry.”
 * Take the skin off poultry when it arrives, and remove visible fat from meat.

Additional Resources

 * American Heart Association Recommendations for Lifestyle Modifications and Risk Reductions]