Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Patient Information
During the next twelve weeks we will:
- Monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.
- Teach you correct use of the equipment.
- Answer your questions.
- Discuss your concerns.
- Give you information about heart disease.
- Assist you in developing safe activity guidelines.
- Include your family in the teaching, when they come with you to the
session.
Low-Level Program
- 3 weeks - 6 sessions - 2 days a week
- Telemetry monitored (you will wear a heart monitor)
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| DATE | TIME | DATE | TIME |
| ________________ | ___________ | ________________ | ___________ |
| ________________ | ___________ | ________________ | ___________ |
| ________________ | ___________ | ________________ | ___________ |
High-Level Program
- Three days a week
- Exercise longer and at a harder workload
- May or may NOT wear a heart monitor
- Length of program varies
Supervision
You will be supervised by registered nurses trained in cardiac rehabilitation,
cardiac life support and exercise. If a problem arises, the RN will contact a
doctor.
General Instructions
- Notify the Center if you are not able to come to exercise. IF YOU DO
NOT FEEL WELL, it is best to rest at home.
- Tell the staff if you: a) forget to take your medicine, b) you stop
taking medicine, c) your medicine dose changes.
- Do not eat 1 1/2 - 2 hours before you exercise.
- Do not take stimulants (coffee, tea, cigarettes) 2 hours before or
after exercising.
- Tell the staff if you experience feelings
of being winded, chest pain, chest tightness, nausea or anything that causes
you to be concerned. Report the symptoms when they occur - do not wait until
after you are done exercising.
- Report any muscle soreness or tiredness that lasts over 24 hours.
- Report a few minutes earlier than your scheduled time - you can then
start to exercise on time. It is important that you START and END on time.
- Wear or bring appropriate clothing
Women: Wear a bra, loose fitting top and slacks, sweat pants or
shorts. Avoid one piece garments and pantyhose.
Men: Wear gym shorts, Bermuda shorts, sweat pants or a pair of loose
fitting, light-weight pants.
Shoes: It's very important that
you wear good walking shoes or sneakers.
There are dressing rooms with showers and lockers available. Please
notify the staff if you are going to shower. You may lock your valuables in the
lockers, but you must provide your own lock.
Parking Garage
- Half-price ($.50) tokens are available for program participants. Inquire
with the staff.
- Take the elevator to the 2nd Floor of the Outpatient Center at Altoona Hospital Campus.
- Remember the color of your parking level.
Appointment Policy
- You are scheduled for a one (1) hour appointment each time you come to
the Center. PLEASE NOTIFY THE STAFF IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND YOUR EXERCISE SESSION.
- Please attend regularly to obtain the greatest benefit to your health.
Bad Weather
- We do not want you shoveling snow or traveling in bad weather!
- If weather conditions make travel hazardous, please do not come to your scheduled appointment.
For questions or more information, call (814) 889-2173
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Exercise Nuclear Stress Test Information
Note: Patient must read the following information three days prior to test.
Patient Information
Please sign in with the outpatient registration desk 30 minutes prior to your scheduled test, unless the Patient Access Department called you to preregister.
A nurse practioner or a physician, a trained technician and nuclear medical technologist, will be present for the test.
Why Have an Exercise Nuclear Stress Test?
Purpose of the Test
What Abnormal Results May Indicate
How Should I Prepare For The Test?
The Day of the Test
Part One of the Test (Resting Portion)
Part Two of the Test
The common way the test advances is according to the Bruce Protocol:
| | Speed | Elevation | METS | Time |
|---|
| Stage 1 | 1.7 | 10% | 5 | 3 min. |
| Stage 2 | 2.5 | 12% | 7 | 3 min. |
| Stage 3 | 3.4 | 14% | 10 | 3 min. |
| Stage 4 | 4.2 | 16% | 13 | 3 min. |
Stopping the Exercise Portion of This Test
Try to walk as long as you can, but remember that the doctor can stop the test
or you can stop the test.
The Test Will Be Stopped If:
You Can Stop The Test If
Part Three
After the Test
For questions or more information, call (814) 889-2102
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Non-Exercise Nuclear Stress Test
Note: Patient must read the following information three days prior to test.
Patient Information
Please sign in with the outpatient registration desk
30 minutes prior to your scheduled test, unless the Patient Access Department called you to preregister.
Your doctor has recommended that you have a test to help evaluate the condition of your heart and its arteries.
The results of this test will help your doctor decide what treatment is best
for you. Ask your doctor about anything you don't understand or would like more
information about.
A Word About Your Heart and Coronary Artery Disease
Your heart is an amazing pumping machine that is responsible for supplying all
of the organs of your body with blood to flow through them easily. Over time, a
condition called coronary artery disease can develop in which fats and other
materials carried in the bloodstream begin to adhere to the artery walls. When
these materials build up into a substance called plague, the arteries become
narrowed or blocked, restricting blood flow through them. As a result, the
heart may not receive the oxygen it needs to perform the work it is being
called upon to do.
Why Do I Need a Non-Exercise Nuclear Stress Test?
The results of the test will help your doctor
determine whether your coronary arteries have become narrowed or blocked as a
result of coronary artery disease and then decide the best course of treatment.
Some of the medicines containing theophylline that should be avoided 36-48
hours before your test include:
SLO-BID GYROCAPS · THEO-24 ·
THEOPHYLLINE S.R. · THEO-DUR
Be sure to tell the person administering the test:
What Should I Do If I'm Taking Persantine Tablets?
If you are currently taking Persantine tablets, you may continue to do so until
48 hours prior to the test.
What Will Happen On The Day Of The Test
Now The Test is Ready To Begin
Special Considerations
What If I Am Pregnant?
If you are pregnant, suspect you may be or are nursing, notify your physician
immediately.
Are There Any Side Effects With This Test?
Adverse patient reaction to the nuclear radiopharmaceutical is extremely rare. I.V. medication may
cause some side effects. In most cases, these effects can be easily reversed.
Please be sure to ask your doctor about anything that you don't understand.
If you are taking any medicine for asthma such as theophylline or
aminophylline, be sure to tell your doctor at the time the test is scheduled.
Many doctors recommend that you stop taking these medications for 24-48 hours
before taking the test.
How Does The Non-Exercise Nuclear Stress Test Work?
During the first part of the test, medication is given to expand (dilate)
the coronary arteries. Arteries that have become narrowed because of coronary
artery disease will not be able to expand as much as normal arteries. The nuclear radiopharmaceutical
is given a few minutes after the medication. The nuclear radiopharmaceutical travels freely through
the normal arteries that have been expanded by the medication and with those
taken earlier, your doctor will be better able to see which areas of the heart
may not be receiving sufficient blood and oxygen supply.
How Should I Prepare For The Test?
REMEMBER:
The above are just a few examples of foods and medicines to be avoided. It is
important to check with your doctor about any other medicines or foods you may
be unsure of before taking this test.
For questions or more information, call (814) 889-2102
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Regular Stress Test
Patient Information
Please sign in with the outpatient registration desk
30 minutes prior to your scheduled test,
unless the Patient Access Department called you to preregister.
A nurse practitioner, or a physician, and a trained technician will be present for the test.
Be sure to take a list of your questions with you.
Why Have the Test?
The Day Before the Test
The Day of the Test
DO NOT:
YOU MAY:
Before the Test
The Actual Stress Test
The common way the test advances is according to the Bruce Protocol:
| | Speed | Elevation | METs |
|---|
| Stage 1 | 1.7 | 10% | 5 |
| Stage 2 | 2.5 | 12% | 7 |
| Stage 3 | 3.4 | 14% | 10 |
| Stage 4 | 4.2 | 16% | 13 |
| Stage 5 | 5.0 | 18% | 16 |
| Stage 6 | 5.5 | 20% | 19 |
| Stage 7 | 6.0 | 22% | 21 |
Stopping the Test
Try to walk as long as you can, but remember that the doctor can stop the test
or you can stop the test.
The Test Will Be Stopped If
You Can Stop The Test If
After The Test
For questions or more information, call (814) 889-2102
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
