Cardiac Rehabilitation: Emotional Health Benefits

Overview

Recovering from a heart problem means not only getting back your physical strength but also getting back your emotional and mental well-being. Having a positive outlook during your recovery and rehabilitation may help you recover physically, emotionally, and mentally. Remember that you are going to start feeling better soon. You are working to get back to your normal life.

After a diagnosis of a heart problem or after having a procedure or surgery, some people experience stress, depression, anxiety, or social isolation. You should be aware that these feelings are common for people who have heart problems. You might struggle with the idea of having a heart problem or how to prevent future problems.

Your rehab team can offer support and education to help you manage the emotional effects of having heart disease.

Many people wonder if their symptoms of anxiety or depression are problems their doctor or rehab team needs to know about while treating their heart disease. Your emotional health affects your physical health. So your doctor and rehab team need to hear about all of your symptoms.

The sooner you and your doctor have talked about your symptoms and your options for treatment, the sooner you can start to feel better. And when you feel better, it might be easier to do the things that are good for your heart.