Uncovering the magical journey of cardiac rehabilitation

In the long river of life, the heart is like the engine of our life boat, silently driving every dawn and dusk. But like any precision machine, the heart also needs regular care and maintenance. Today, let us embark on this miraculous journey of cardiac rehabilitation and explore how to regain heart health and make life more colorful through the five magic weapons of nutrition, exercise, medication, psychological sleep and smoking cessation.

1. Nutrition: Adding fuel to your heart

Balanced nutritional intake is the cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation

Low-salt and low-fat diet: Too much salt and fat will increase the burden on the heart and cause arteriosclerosis. Choose low-salt and low-fat foods to make the heart beat easily.

Rich fiber intake: Fiber in whole grains, beans and vegetables helps lower cholesterol and keep blood vessels clear.

High-quality protein: Protein found in fish, chicken and soy products helps repair and grow heart muscles.

Weight Management:

2. Exercise: Make your heart beat stronger

Aerobic exercise is the basis, resistance exercise and flexibility exercise are supplementary

Aerobic exercise: such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging, cycling, and Ba Duan Jin. Exercise for more than 30 minutes each time, 5-7 times a week, to make the heart stronger in the rhythm.

Resistance exercise: Resistance training with dumbbells, elastic bands, etc. should be performed 2-3 times a week, each time including 8-10 movements, and each movement should be repeated 8-12 times to increase muscle strength and reduce the burden on the heart.

Flexibility training: Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong to increase joint flexibility and prevent sports injuries.

III. Drugs: The Heart’s Intimate Guardian

Take medication on time: Follow your doctor's orders and do not change the dose or stop taking the medication at will.

Understand the effects of drugs: Know the effects and possible side effects of each drug, and communicate with your doctor in a timely manner.

4. Psychological sleep: Give your heart a peaceful haven

Your mental state and quality sleep have a direct impact on your heart health:

Stress management: Learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, reading, etc. to release stress.

Stay optimistic: A positive attitude is good for heart health and avoid excessive mood swings. Share your feelings with your family and friends and seek their support and understanding.

Psychological intervention and professional assistance: For patients with greater psychological pressure, it is recommended to seek professional psychological counseling or psychotherapy. Psychologists will help patients overcome psychological barriers and enhance their psychological adaptability through professional intervention methods.

Sleep management: Develop good sleeping habits, avoid staying up late and overwork, the best sleep time is 6-8 hours a day. If necessary, you can use sleeping pills under the guidance of a doctor, but pay attention to the safety of the medication.

5. Quitting smoking: Let your heart breathe freely

Smoking is the enemy of the heart, quitting smoking is the key to recovery:

Develop a smoking cessation plan: gradually reduce the amount of smoking until you quit completely, while avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke.

Seek support: Join a smoking cessation clinic and share your quitting journey with family and friends to get support.

Avoid relapse: identify relapse triggers and create a smoke-free environment.

Conclusion:

Cardiac rehabilitation is a long-term battle, but it is not a one-way battle. Through five strategies, nutrition, exercise, medicine, psychology and smoking cessation, we can provide comprehensive care for the heart. Remember, every healthy diet choice, every active exercise, every medication on time, every psychological relaxation, and every determination to quit smoking are the best care for the heart. Let us join hands to inject new vitality into the heart and start a healthy life journey.

References

[1] Expert consensus writing group on home rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular disease in China. Expert consensus on home rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular disease in China[J]. Chinese Journal of Circulation, 2022, 37(2): 108-121.

[2] Cardiovascular Disease Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association. Summary of the 2018 Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention in China[J]. Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, 2018, 57(11): 802-810.

[3] Cardiovascular Committee of Beijing Nursing Association. Expert consensus on cardiac rehabilitation health education prescription nursing for patients with coronary heart disease[J]. Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing, 2022, 28(09): 1121-1127.

About the Author:

Wang Xiaoli, head nurse, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University; member of the Popular Science and Health Education Working Committee of the Chinese Medical Education Association.

Expertise: Health education and rehabilitation guidance for common cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia