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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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. 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 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 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 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.
THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE
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.
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The Pulse Fit Rx Program takes place at
Pulse Cardiac Centre
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7
Email us at info@fitrx.ca or use the contact form below
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