Cardiac rehab combines cardio, strength training and education in a special gym designed for heart therapy. Carilion has cardiac rehab facilities in Roanoke, New River Valley, Franklin County and Lexington. 

Cardiac therapy is a structured program. An exercise physiologist, cardiac registered nurse or respiratory therapist works with you during each visit. A heart doctor also medically supervises the program.  

It’s a group program, so you’ll be with others like you. 

After a heart attack, heart surgery or other heart procedure, cardiac rehab safely works out your heart.  

All parts of cardiac rehab are all equally important: 

• Aerobic exercise: Workouts to elevate your heart rate and improve the flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. You’ll learn how to get your heart pumping.
• Strength training: Uses weights or resistance to improve your muscle strength and stamina. You’ll work your whole body, targeting each major muscle group.
• Education: You’ll learn to manage your risk factors and better care for yourself. This includes making heart-healthy diet choices.
• Dietitian consult: A one-on-one diet education talk with a registered dietitian.
• Mental health help: A one-on-one visit with a psychologist to help you learn to manage stress in healthier ways.

You’re never too old or too young for cardiac rehab. People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit. 

To be eligible for Medicare to cover cardiac rehab (or other insurance if you’re under 65), you need to: 

• Have experienced a ​heart attack in the last 12 months
• Have had ​coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)
• Have a current diagnosis of stable angina (chest pain with exercise or stress) or stable chronic ​​heart failure
• Have had a ​heart valve repair or replacement (either surgical or interventional)
• Have a heart stent or angioplasty, now called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
• Have had a heart transplant 

Cardiac rehab requires a prescription from a primary care doctor, cardiologist or other heart specialist. 

Despite all the benefits of cardiac rehab, sometimes doctors don’t suggest it. At Carilion, we make it a point to refer all eligible people to cardiac rehab. If you think you qualify and your doctor hasn’t suggested it, ask them to refer you.

The first phase begins in the hospital. A cardiac rehab nurse will visit you and your family to answer questions about your health issue.  

You’ll learn about activity restrictions and what you should do to continue in your recovery. 

For less invasive heart procedures, you might be able to start full rehab within a few weeks. If you’re doing cardiac rehab after open heart surgery, it may take 6 weeks or so before you can start.  

Heart attack rehab may start within a few weeks. You can start cardiac rehab for heart failure when you’re strong enough. 

During cardiac rehab  

Your exercise program may include some or all of these types of equipment: 

• Stationary bike
• Treadmill
• Arm cycle
• Weights
• Wall pulleys 

While you exercise, we'll connect you to an electrocardiogram (EKG) transmitter or other monitoring equipment.  

A cardiac rehab nurse or exercise physiologist will monitor you during each session. Checking how your heart reacts and adapts to exercise is an important part of cardiac rehab. Rest assured that your cardiac rehab team is trained to handle any emergency that might happen. 

You’ll also learn how to maintain your exercise program at home and how to reduce your risk factors for further heart problems. 

Benefits of cardiac rehab 

The closer you can get to completing all your visits, the more benefits you’ll see.  

Benefits include: 

• Lowering your risk for heart attack
• Lowering your overall mortality risk (from any disease)
• Losing weight 
• Improved diet
• Reducing your stress
• Increasing your energy and sense of well-being
• Making friends (there is a strong social aspect to cardiac rehab) 

After cardiac rehab 

For ongoing therapy, Carilion Wellness offers a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation maintenance program. You can enroll in this program after cardiac rehab (it requires a membership). 

You’ll need a doctor’s referral to start this program.