Cardiac Rehabilitation Services

Cardiac Rehabilitation is an active and progressive procedure to bring the cardiac patient to his/her optimum physical, mental, social and vocational usefulness through exercise training, health education and life-style modification within the individual's own pace and safe limits. The goals of Cardiac Rehabilitation are to reduce and/or improve cardiac symptoms, minimize medication, minimize lifestyle restrictions -- that is to say, to return the individual to work if employed before the problem, identify, control and modify the associated risk factors, prevent progression of the disease and most importantly improve the quality of life.

Admission into the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is through physician referral only. Patients that qualify for Cardiac Rehabilitation are patients that have had a heart attack within the last 12 months, balloon surgery - angioplasty within the last 12 months, bypass surgery within the last 12 months or patients with stable angina. Patients are closely supervised while patricipating in the program. As a person exercises, their EKG is monitored continuously. In addition, the person's blood pressure is checked frequently during each session. Any deviation from normal is quickly detected and corrective action is taken.

Paris Community Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation is a program for area patients with coronary heart disease who have had a recent heart attack, are having anginal attacks, or have had heart surgery. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Center is located in the newly renovated and decorated area of the West Wing of the Hospital.

This service provides convenient access to monitored exercise sessions in order to build up cardiovascular endurance in the patient with a recent myocardial infarction, angioplasty, bypass surgery, or controlled angina. Paris physician, Dr. Reid Sutton, serves as the medical director of the Center.

Paris Community Hospital offers the program in three phases. Phase I is a short in-patient program lasting five to seven days and is initiated as soon as a patient's condition stabilizes following a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or admission due to angina. It provides the patient with early nursing assisted ambulatory activity and also education to decrease anxiety and fear. The family is also involved in the patient education process.

Phase II is usually initiated within the first one to two weeks of discharge from a hospital, if possible. This phase will usually be 8-12 weeks long depending upon the individual's response to the personalized exercise program. Patients in this phase will have their heart monitored by the most advanced computerized electrocardiographic monitor available today. All patients entering this program will have a coronary risk profile done to evaluate cholesterol and contributing risk factors. Dietary counseling, medication counseling and psychosocial counseling will be part of Phase II to assist the patient and family in learning about cardiovascular disease, dietary considerations in cardiovascular disease, control of cardiovascular symptoms through education on pertinent medication and methods for identifying and reducing stress factors that may affect the cardiovascular system.

Exercise sessions will be 45-60 minutes long, three times a week. All Phase II patients must be monitored and will receive frequent evaluation of blood pressure readings before, during and after exercise sessions. All registered nurses working within the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center have received certification in advanced cardiac life support.

Patients in Phase II will exercise according to each individual's exercise prescription using equipment such as wall pulleys, exercise bicycles, treadmills, free weights and rowers.

Phase III is a maintenance program which can be initiated after the completion of Phase II. This phase is not a monitored phase and is offered to maintain physical, emotional, social and educational components to improve quality of life of the Cardiac Rehabilitation participant.

The Paris Community Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There is no charge for Phase I. Most insurance carriers and Medicare cover a majority of the costs for Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A person suffering a heart attack may experience varied symptoms.

The primary symptom of heart attack is an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than two minutes. The pain may radiate to the shoulder, neck and arms.

Other symptoms may include nausea, weakness, sweating and/or shortness of breath.

Any of these signs could mean that a heart attack is occurring and it is imperative to act immediately. The best results can be obtained if treatment begins within ONE hour of the onset of chest pain.

When immediate help is needed, do not hesitate to call the emergency ambulance number at 463-HELP (4357) or the hospital at 465-4141. Be ready to give the following information:

Your name
Patient's name
Address where patient is located
Nearest cross street
Brief description of what happened and the kind of help needed
Your phone number
Wait for questions or instructions
Stay on the phone until instructed to hang up

Otherwise, bring the patient immediately to our Emergency Room. If possible have someone notify the hospital that you are on the way.