Overview

The Heart and Vascular Center offers an outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at six locations through Yale New Haven Health to help patients transition to an active life following a cardiovascular event. Each of our cardiac rehabilitation locations is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation is for anyone with a recent cardiovascular problem, such as:

• A heart attack
• Angioplasty and stent placement, coronary bypass, valve replacement or heart transplant
• Cardiomyopathy
• Chronic stable angina
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Heart transplant
• Heart valve repair or replacement surgery
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Peripheral artery disease
• Ventricular assist device implant

The cardiac rehabilitation team includes advanced practice providers, exercise physiologists, nurses, on-site cardiologists and dietitians. A patient’s program of 36 sessions is tailored to one’s fitness level. Our team identifies specific exercises, including the appropriate intensity, duration and pace that are best for one’s health. The team will also help participants identify individual cardiovascular risk factors, assist with risk factor modification and provide regular progress updates to a patient’s physician.

Cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to reduce unexpected returns to the hospital as well as other cardiac events. There is also increasing evidence it can help reduce depression, anger and other psychological problems that can follow a heart attack or surgery.