A coalition of medical organizations have come together to issue cardiac rehab guidelines intended to boost the number of patients receiving such care. Groups backing the measure include the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Right now, less than 30 percent of eligible patients end up in cardiac rehab, despite the fact that rehab programs can be as helpful as medication, largely because they're not referred to such a program or can't afford one. But if they do end up in a rehab program, deaths after cardiac illness fall by 20 percent to 25 percent, while strength and physical endurance climb anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent.
To find out more about the guidelines:
- read this article in The Washington Post
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