The terms “heart health” and “heart healthy” have become part of everyday vocabulary in the past decade or so. Whether you’re perusing the menu at your favorite restaurant, grocery shopping, or reading your box of cereal at breakfast, chances are you’re getting a plethora of information on the nutritional value of the food you eat.
Despite constant reminders about the importance of choosing healthy food, exercising regularly, and coping with stress, nothing brings it home more effectively than facing a life-threatening health issue such as a heart attack. Each year 805,000 Americans have a heart attack, which translates to a heart attack happening every 40 seconds.
If you or a loved one suffers from heart disease, you know all too well how scary and difficult it is for your whole family. Although having a heart attack is pretty traumatic, the recovery process is almost more difficult as you try to undo lifestyle habits that may put you at risk for future heart problems.
The cardiac rehabilitation team at Cardio Metabolic Institute understands this. Here, we explain our Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab program and share how it can help you rewrite your wellness story.
What is the Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab program?
When most people think of the name Pritikin, they probably connect it with the pioneering bestselling diet and exercise books published in the early 1980s. Remarkably, the books were written at a time when doctors didn’t recommend exercising after a heart attack.
The books served to usher in a new era of emphasis on making lifestyle changes to enhance heart wellness and was inspired by co-author Nathan Pritikin’s own diagnosis of coronary heart disease at age 42.
Cardio Metabolic Institute leverages this history-making body of knowledge as New Jersey’s only certified Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) center. That means we’re part of an exclusive network of facilities licensed to deliver this Medicare-approved, evidence-based heart health wellness and prevention program.
The program is designed to help patients who’ve suffered a heart attack or had surgical procedures like bypass surgery and stenting. It also helps patients with chronic heart conditions.
Reducing risks for future heart problems
True to its roots, the program focuses on three major tenets: regular exercise, a heart-healthy eating plan, and developing a healthy mindset through stress reduction.
The ultimate goal of this multidisciplinary approach is not only to provide the tools and education to enhance overall heart health, but also to reduce your cardiovascular risks for future heart attacks or heart issues.
Monitoring results through regular checkups
Rehabilitation from a cardiac issue is a marathon, not a sprint. After all, chances are it took many years for bad habits like poor eating and lack of exercise to turn into high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more than a few extra pounds.
What’s really great about our certified Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab is that you don’t have to go it alone. We know change isn’t easy. This medically supervised wellness program includes regular checkups so we can monitor your progress and provide support for both you and your family.
Along the way, we take occasional blood tests and stress tests and perform other diagnostic procedures to track the progress of your heart health. It takes effort, but the journey to a healthier you is well worth it.
Personalization for your new healthy life
Another benefit of our Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab program is that we tailor your rehabilitation plan to address your unique needs and your heart health. Think of it as your own personal healthy living playbook.
Have you had a heart attack, or are you suffering from cardiovascular disease? Find out if our certified Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab program is right for you. Book a cardiac rehab evaluation at Cardio Metabolic Institute to learn more. For an appointment, click or call today.