PULSE FIT Rx

FITNESS and CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Cardiologist-supervised program tailored to your unique condition and needs.

We help you take control of your health by creating a personalized program of exercise, diet, and education. Your exercise prescription is adjusted as your fitness improves. The cardiologist follows you throughout to optimize your medical therapy.

FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE:

Coronary artery disease / atherosclerosis
Angina
Heart attack
Heart failure
Angioplasty
Heart surgery
Arrhythmia (such as atrial fibrillation)
Heart transplant

AND PEOPLE AT RISK OF HEART DISEASE:

Family history of premature heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Peripheral vascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Stroke·

MEDICAL

ASSESSMENTS

The cardiologist assesses your heart disease risk profile by reviewing your complete cardiovascular, medical, and surgical history, your medications and your symptoms. A cardiovascular examination, resting ECG and treadmill exercise stress test are performed.

Through ongoing follow-up, the cardiologist will ensure that your risk factors for heart disease are treated to target and that you are on the best evidence-based medical therapy available. Your care is closely coordinated with your primary care physician.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELLING

& WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

We develop a complete picture of your dietary habits, daily caloric intake and dietary intake of saturated fat, trans-fat, cholesterol, sodium, and nutrients. Education, counselling, and your diet prescription are individualized taking into account your medical diagnoses, personal preferences and cultural variables.

Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and negatively impacts other risk factors for heart disease. Our weight management program involves a combination of diet, physical activity, exercise, and behavioural strategies.

EXERCISE TRAINING &

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COUNSELLING

The initial assessment includes your baseline activity level, exercise capacity, readiness to change, and identification of barriers to increasing physical activity. A treadmill exercise stress test forms the basis to guide the exercise recommendation. Your individualized exercise prescription will include aerobic and resistance training and will address your specific needs and limitations. You will exercise 5 days a week: 2-3 times a week with us, and on your own 2-3 times a week. Your exercise prescription will be updated continually as your fitness improves.

BLOOD PRESSURE, LIPIDS & DIABETES

All patients are assessed for hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus as these conditions are associated with worse long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Optimal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar control leads to improvements in cardiovascular health and outcomes. In addition to medical therapy, we focus heavily on lifestyle and diet modification to achieve recommended targets.

SMOKING

CESSATION

Quitting smoking can reduce cardiovascular risk by about one-third in patients with cardiovascular disease. After assessing your readiness for smoking cessation, we provide appropriate interventions in the form of education and counselling, social support, and medications, if needed.

PSYCHOSOCIAL MANAGEMENT

Our in depth psychosocial evaluation identifies important psychosocial stressors, depression, anxiety, anger or hostility, social isolation, family distress, sexual dysfunction, and substance abuse. Depression is common after cardiac events, and can lead to fatigue, lower exercise capacity, reduced quality of life, reduced sense of well-being, and an increased risk of death. We partner with a clinical psychologist for those in need of psychological support.

THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE

47% lower risk of death

after just 36 sessions

Researchers at Duke University studied older adults with coronary artery disease who participated in a similar cardiac rehabilitation program. Participants who attended 36 sessions had a 47% lower risk of death over a 5-year follow-up period compared to those who only attended 1 session.

Circulation 2010;121:63-70.

THE TEAM

Dr. Eli Rosenberg

Cardiologist & CEO

Dr. Rosenberg is a cardiologist with a special interest in preventative cardiology. He developed the Pulse Fit Rx program to ensure patients have a place to continue the momentum created in the hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programs. He suspended his hobbies when his twins were born, but hopes to resume rock climbing again, as soon as possible.

Ling Pai

Fitness Director

Ling helped develop the Pulse Fit Rx program after heading up Lions Gate Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program. She is a certified clinical exercise physiologist with a special interest in heart disease. Ling is a competitive surfer in her spare time.

Robin Arora-Desilet

Registered Dietitian

Robin is a dietitian registered with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia and holds a Bachelors of Science in Dietetics and Microbiology. Robin empowers patients to use specific, individualized strategies to gain control of their health. For years she has helped patients manage their diabetes, allergies, weight concerns, digestive issues, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

Alex Brown

Cardiac Diagnostics

Alex is an extraordinary cardiovascular technologist who in the past effortlessly replaced three other technologists. Alex conducts our ECGs, treadmill exercise stress testing, Holter/event monitoring, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Dr. Courtney Young

Physician

Dr. Young recently completed her Cardiology training at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She also holds two Master’s degrees in healthcare quality improvement and business administration.

Joyce Galing

Patient Care Coordinator

As the Patient Care Coordinator, Joyce’s role is to ensure that the clinic runs smoothly and that each patients’ needs are met. She is your advocate and, if need be, your confidant. You will be hard-pressed to find a more caring individual.

Zoii Brown

Patient Care Coordinator

Zoii has recently come on board to help ensure that the clinic runs smoothly and that each patients’ needs are met. Zoii will be starting nursing school in the fall.

Jas Jugpal

Cardiology Technologist

Jas conducts our ECGs, treadmill exercise stress testing, Holter/event monitoring, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. She also works at BC Children’s Hospital with the little heart patients.

THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE

Improved quality of life.

Less symptoms.

Research studies have shown that people who participate in cardiac rehabilitation programs report a higher quality of life, as well as improved pain, energy level, physical function, well-being, general health, and mental health.

Cardiac rehabilitation has also been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitations, and depression.

Am J Cardiol 1995;76:177-9. / Eur Heart J 1999;20:1475-84. / Am J Medicine 2007;120:799-806.