"Terrific secondary cardiac rehab"

Following a heart attack and an emergency stent placement, the care team recommended that I participate in the cardio secondary risk management program. This includes a 6 week two days in the Gym program and two afternoon education sessions (holistic: food, meds, stress etc). Absolutely excellent program. Without this "on a plate for you" Gym program it is unlikely that I would have got back to being active very quickly. The team that coaches you (perhaps back) into being active is made of exceptionally able and caring staff (cardiac nurses, physiotherapists, exercise specialists etc). It is very individual and you are led through a series of exercise including stretches, resistance training and cardio that is appropriate to your level of heart fitness and medications. You do your exercises as a group, but you have individual levels e.g. your resistance band will reflect your muscle capability or your cardio reps/sets will change with time (you aren't competing) ... so that by the end you are able to independently manage your own exercise routine. In my case there were noticeable improvements in several of the measurable parameters. But that is the not the most important thing. The more important thing is that I became more confident that I could independently exercise - and not be unduly worried and anxious about "troubling" my heart.

The rules of the review are that I am not allowed to name or identify staff. In this case that is sad. I thank each and end every member of team that helped me to recover. I am already missing the Gym sessions. I encourage anyone that is referred to the program to grab and run with the opportunity: it will, in my opinion, improve your life.