Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 49)

The Heart of reHab Lifestyle changes can make a world of difference in heart health By ElisE sims s chererville resident Bob Lewis’ heart is in a better place after keeping a promise he made to his wife 45 years ago that they’d travel to Egypt one day. “I asked my wife, Renee, to marry me on the very first day I met her,” he says. “She laughed, but I asked her again the second time we went out, and she said she would if I would take her to Egypt someday. Forty-five years later, I was able to keep that promise.” a hearT’s hUrdle Schererville resident Bob Lewis was able to keep a promise to his wife, Renee, and travel around the world to Egypt after getting his heart in a better place with cardiac rehabilitation. Two years ago, the prospect of taking such a trip was unthinkable after Lewis experienced a series of health challenges. He had multiple heart attacks while recovering from knee replacement surgery. Cardiologist C.R. Smith, D.O., was able to clear blockages from Lewis’ arteries by placing stents to prevent future cardiac events. Lewis knew he needed to take steps to slow the progression of his heart disease so he could keep that promise to his wife. “If I didn’t go through Cardiac Rehab Phase II and HeartFit with all of the encouragement and support of the staff, I would not be here today,” Lewis says. “A good support system can make all the difference in recovery.” Cardiac rehabilitation proved to be Lewis’ ticket to Egypt. Offered at Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart and Community Hospital Fitness Pointe® in Munster, cardiac rehab is a program that combines cardiovascular conditioning exercise with education and counseling to make lifestyle changes necessary to reduce the risk of heart disease or slow its progression. It is offered both in the hospital setting and on an outpatient basis. Becoming proactive in his treatment, Lewis signed up for Cardiac Rehab Phase II while still a patient at Community Hospital. Then he graduated to HeartFit, a special program offered through Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase III at Community Hospital Fitness Pointe. Teaming Up wiTh experTs The program provides support and expertise of specially trained cardiac nurses and exercise physiologists. This team works together with an individual’s cardiologist and primary care doctor to customize a therapy plan. HeartFit takes place in a group setting for added support. Sessions include exercise and education to help patients like Lewis reduce medications, improve physical fitness, prevent risk of future heart conditions, lower blood pressure and return to normal activities quicker. Call Cardiac rehabilitation incorporates education and supervised exercise to help safeguard the health of heart patients. If you have heart disease, talk to your doctor about cardiac rehabilitation. To find out how our cardiac rehabilitation specialists can custom design a plan to meet your needs, call Community Hospital, 219-836-4526; Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 219-934-2830; St. Catherine Hospital, 219-392-7100; or St. Mary Medical Center, 219-947-6085. It’ll Do Your Heart Good Vim & Vigor • SPRI NG 2011 49

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
Solutions for Relief
Helping the Medicine Go Down
Beating Breast Cancer
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
The Heart of Rehab
Spotlight on St. Mary Medical Center
Spotlight on Community Hospital
Spotlight on St. Catherine Hospital
Prescription for Safety

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare