The Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Smith County Memorial Hospital is focused on helping cardiac or pulmonary patients build physical strength and stamina. This program helps strengthen the heart, improve circulation, improve blood sugars for diabetics, help normalize blood pressure, reduces stress and most of all helps enhance quality of life. Educational classes are provided during the 6-12 weeks on topics such as risk factors, stress management, exercise principles, nutrition and smoking cessation.

The program consists of 2 phases at Smith County Memorial Hospital. Your physician will need to write a prescription for Cardiac Rehabilitation. Phase II and Phase III are done as an outpatient. Phase II is for monitored sessions for 6-12 Weeks on Monday - Wednesday and Friday's. Phase III's program continues if patient desires following Phase II. If the patient does not qualify for Phase II with insurance guidelines, then they can begin Phase III with permission from their physician. Phase III is a private pay program per each session. People with elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes and/or other risk factors would be excellent candidates for this program.

The equipment used for exercise is the treadmill, recumbent bicycle or recumbent NuStep. Free hand weights and Thera-Bands are also beneficial for strengthening and are done at completion of exercise. Patients are weighted weekly to monitor weight and all exercise sessions are supervised by registered nurses.

Additional services provided by the Cardiac Rehabilitation staff are Holter Monitoring, Lifewatch Event Monitor and Cardiolites (Treadmill & Adenosine) for Cardiac Stress tests.

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