Medical evaluation. Your health care team will generally perform an initial evaluation to see your physical abilities, medical limitations and other conditions you'll have. Ongoing evaluations can help your health care team keep track of your progress over time.

During your evaluation, your health care team may check out your risk factors for heart complications, particularly during exercise. This can help your team tailor a cardiac program to satisfy your individual needs, and therefore the team can confirm it's safe and effective for you.

Physical activity. Cardiac rehabilitation can improve your cardiovascular fitness through physical activity. Your health care team will likely suggest low impact activities that have a lower risk of injury, like walking, cycling, rowing, jogging and other activities. You'll usually exercise at least three times a week. Your health care team will likely teach you proper exercise techniques, like warming up and cooling down.

You may also do muscle-strengthening exercises, such as lifting weights or other resistance training exercises, two or three times a week to increase your muscular fitness.

Don't worry if you've never exercised before. Your health care team can confirm the program moves at a cushty pace and is safe for you.

Lifestyle education. You'll usually receive support and education on making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking.

Your health care team may offer you guidance about managing conditions like high vital sign , diabetes and high cholesterol.

You'll likely have opportunities to ask questions about such issues as sexual activity. You'll also need to continue taking any medications you've been prescribed by your doctor.

Support. Adjusting to a significant ill health often takes time. You may feel depressed or anxious, lose touch together with your social network , or need to pack up for several weeks.

If you get depressed, don't ignore it. Depression can make your cardiac rehab program harder , and it can impact your relationships and other areas of your life and health.

Counseling can help you learn healthy ways to cope with depression and other feelings. Your doctor may also suggest medications such as antidepressants. Vocational or physical therapy can teach you new skills to assist you come back to figure .