Cardiac rehabilitation (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

A cardiac rehabilitation program may help you with:

Understanding risk factors for heart disease and how to reduce them
Improving the ability to cope with stress (anger management)
Lowering blood pressure
Understanding mechanism, effects and side effects of medications and possible drug interactions.
Strengthening the heart and cardiovascular system
Gaining a great sense of well-being and self confidence
Improving daily physical activity

Ask about low-fat or fat-free choices.
Ask the server to make substitutions like steamed vegetables instead of French fries.
Use the basic guidelines of your healthy eating plan when choosing a main dish. Pick lean meat, fish or skinless chicken.
Make sure your entrée is broiled, baked, grilled, steamed or poached instead of fried.
Order vegetable side dishes and ask that any sauces or butter be left off.
Ask for low-calorie salad dressing or a lemon to squeeze on your salad instead of dressing.
Ask for baked, boiled or roasted potatoes instead of fried. And ask for them without the butter and sour cream.
Order fresh fruit or fruit sorbet in place of cake, pie or ice cream.
When it seems that everything on the menu is “off limits,” ask if the chef will make you a fruit or vegetable platter. Most chefs are happy to do so.^[1]

Push the butter out of your way or ask that it be removed. Ask for soft margarine instead.
Order your dressings and sauces on the side so you can control how much you use.
Stay away from fried appetizers and creamy soups. Begin your meal with broth-based soup like minestrone or gazpacho.
At salad bars, stay away from high-fat items like cheese, cream dressings, chopped eggs, croutons, olives and bacon bits.
Ask that your food be made without butter or cream sauces. You’ll be surprised at how delicious meat, fish and chicken can be when broiled “dry.”
Take the skin off poultry when it arrives, and remove visible fat from meat. ^[2]