Heartworks Pathways

Congestive Heart Failure Exercise Program  

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, it can be frightening.  It is true that this is a serious condition and there is no cure, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle.  Heartworks can provide you with an individualized exercise and education treatment plan to assist you on this pathway.    

The term “heart failure” means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it should.  Usually the heart has been weakened over time by an underlying problem, such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure, a defect or some other medical condition.  Your body depends on the heart's pumping action to deliver oxygen rich blood so it can function normally.  As a result, you tend to feel weak, fatigued, or short of breath. 

If you have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, you are not alone.  In the United States , approximately 5 million people have congestive heart failure.  Each year 550,000 new patients will be diagnosed.  Congestive heart failure can be managed with your physician's care and our supervised exercise program at Heartworks.  Regardless of your treatment plan, it is important that you make the necessary changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to give you the highest possible quality of life.  

Peripheral Arterial Disease Exercise Program  

“My leg muscles hurt when I walk.” This complaint is surprisingly familiar among patients with heart disease.  Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) typically feel lower leg pain from the build up of cholesterol and fatty deposits in the arteries.  This causes insufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery to the muscles.  The discomfort that occurs is usually noted during activity, such as walking.  

PAD affects as many as 8-12 million Americans in the United States . The good news is that PAD can be treated through medically-supervised programs and your physician's care.  PAD rehabilitation is designed to diminish symptoms and delay the progression of this disease.  The treatment plan involves changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits. 

The 12 week exercise/education program here at Heartworks can assist you in the management of your disease process by improving symptoms, reducing your risk for further events, and improving your quality of life.

Pulmonary Health and Rehabilitation

Pathways to Healthy Living

How do you begin?

Pulmonary Rehab is designed to complement your physician’s care and his or her referral to our program is essential. If you think that you are a candidate for Pulmonary Rehab, call your physician today!

At The Medical Center of Central Georgia, we are promoting health and well-being through our outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. We are helping patients with lung disease to improve their functional capacity and reduce the economic, medical, and social burdens of their diseases. Most insurance companies reimburse for pulmonary rehabilitation services.

For more information please call our Cardiopulmonary Rehab Department at The Medical Center of Central Georgia at 478-633-5090

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program designed to help people who have experienced pulmonary disease. The program is designed to train the patient through individualized programs to achieve his or her optimal capacity to carry out activities of daily living.

Pulmonary Rehab participants include those who have experienced lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, and /or a history of adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Phase II
is a monitored program which includes breathing retraining, aerobic exercise, and light weight training. The sessions are supervised by a medical team who continually monitor your oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and heart rate or rhythm.

A health education program is considered vital to the preventative role of Phase II. The program includes topics such as breathing techniques, time and energy conservation, medications, nutrition, leisure time techniques and travel issues, to name a few.

Phase III
develops independence in a supervised exercise setting while you maintain lifelong improved health.

Benefits of Pulmonary Rehab

• Reduce hospitalizations and use of medical resources
• Improved quality of life
• Reduced respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath
• Reduce anxiety and depression Improved self efficiency Increased exercise tolerance and performance
• Enhanced ability to perform activities of daily living Increased knowledge about pulmonary disease and its management

Our Staff

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program staff at The Medical Center of Central Georgia includes:

• Medical Director
• Respiratory Therapist
• Registered Nurse
• Exercise Physiologist
• Pharmacist
• Nutrition Counselor
• Expert in family counseling

Upon entering the program, each participant receives a thorough health assessments to determine his or her current fitness level. An individualized exercise regimen is supervised by qualified staff using advanced EKG and Pulse Oximetry monitoring as necessary.

Smoking Cessation Information

The Freshstart smoking cessation program is provided at Heartworks in association with the American Cancer Society. This FREE Freshstart program is designed to help you stop smoking in four one-hour sessions. The single most important element is YOU- and your dedication to fight the addiction to nicotine that makes you want to smoke. Classes begin the first Wednesday of each month and run for 4 consecutive weeks. Classes begin at 5:00 pm at Heartworks (389 First Street, Macon – Second Floor). Please call 478-633-5090 to reserve your place in the next class. Dates and times are subject to change. Freshstart can be your start to a new life without tobacco products!

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Admission Criteria

• Diagnosis of: Stable Angina
• Myocardial Infarction (within the last 12 months)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (within the last 12 months)
• Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty/Stents
• Referral to the program by a physician
•  Low-Level exercise stress test
• History and physical prior to initiation of program

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Experiencing a cardiac event, such as angina, heart attack or open heart surgery can have a major impact on you and your family. Often there is a fear of being unable to resume normal activities.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is the process by which persons with or at risk of cardiovascular disease, may be restored to and maintained at their best physical, emotional, social, and vocational levels.

Heartworks, a service of The Medical Center of Central Georgia, offers a cardiac rehabilitation program with a supportive medical and allied health staff. Our program incorporates education, counseling and exercise to help you reach your optimal level of well-being and self- sufficiency.

Early outpatient rehabilitation is designed for individuals who have recently experienced a cardiac event and have been discharged from the hospital. Most patients exercise three days a week for a period up to 12 weeks. All exercising patients are supervised and monitored for ECG, blood pressure, and heart rate and exercise is adjusted as needed.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Program

The purpose of cardiac rehabilitation is to provide positive results for the patient.

The goals are:

• To combat progression of cardiac disease
• To improve cardiac efficiency
• To reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• To improve resting blood pressure levels
• To increase work capacity
• To improve psychological and emotional well-being
• To enhance the quality of life

Education

During cardiac rehabilitation, patient education plays a major role. The professional cardiac rehabilitation team, along with your personal physician, encourages a reduction of all cardiac risk factors and the development of a healthy lifestyle. Individual educational needs are assessed and goals are set for long-term cardiac risk factor modification. Participants will enjoy learning about a wide variety of educational topics which may include:

• Risk factors for heart disease
• blood pressure
• cholesterol
• smoking
• weight management
• physical inactivity
• Medication
• Low-fat diet modifications
• Stress reduction
• Relaxation techniques
• Benefits of exercise
• Free CPR classes for family members
• Smoking Cessation Classes