American Heart Association Launches First-Ever Cardiac Rehabilitation Web Site to Help Heart Attack Patients Recover.

Site Complements Traditional Programs with Online Resources

DALLAS -- The American Heart Association has launched a new Web site to help cardiac patients who are participating in traditional cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Cardiac rehabilitation is a professionally supervised program to help people recover from heart attacks, heart surgery and procedures such as stenting and angioplasty.

FOR VIDEO AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: http://mnr.onthescene.com/AmericanHeartAssociation/CardiacRehab.html

The new Web site -- www.americanheart.org/cardiacrehab -- will be a powerful complement to a patient's existing program. Or, for those who are not participating in a formalized rehab program, the Web site offers tools and advice for cardiac patients and caregivers on the key elements of an at-home program. Highlights of the site include:

* Detailed explanations and illustrations of what happens to the body during heart attack, heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions

* Video footage of prominent cardiologists discussing common heart conditions

* Resources for making lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking and adding physical activity to the daily routine

* Tips for patients to communicate with healthcare professionals about their care

"We know from years of research that cardiac rehab is a critical component to patient recovery and prevention of future cardiovascular events," said Barry Franklin, Ph.D., spokesperson for the American Heart Association and Director of the William Beaumont Cardiac Rehabilitation Center--Beaumont Hospital, Wayne State University.

Studies have shown that cardiac rehabilitation programs help reduce the risk of death after cardiac illness by 20 to 25 percent--a level of benefit similar to that of statin drugs, beta blockers and aspirin. They can also boost physical strength and endurance by 20 to 50 percent, an improvement that could determine whether a patient is able to return to an active life.

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the American Heart Association (AHA) recently unveiled a new set of performance measures aimed at boosting patient enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation programs and setting standards of excellence for program operations. One goal of the new performance measures--which are akin to report cards used to gauge adherence to recommended clinical guidelines--is to make referral to cardiac rehab as automatic as giving aspirin during a heart attack.

Cardiac rehab programs usually provide education and counseling services in a hospital or outpatient setting to help heart patients increase physical fitness, reduce cardiac symptoms, improve health and reduce the risk of future heart problems, including heart attack. The new Web site is not meant as a replacement for these services, which are an important part of recovery for cardiac patients.

"This Web site emphasizes what physicians and therapists work so hard to convey to their patients each day: Taking an active role in your care will lead to a healthier future," Franklin said.