Now, sweat it out at cardiac rehabilitation centre

Rita Dutta - Mumbai

Portly men and women on the wrong side of 40 are seen working out on a treadmill, water rowing, cycling, weight lifting or doing hand and leg exercise. No, this is not your neighbourhood high-tech gym. This is the cardiac rehabilitation centre of the Asian Heart Institute and Research Centre (AHIRC).

Established in 2002, this centre differs from a gym in more ways than one. The exercise is constantly monitored by telemetry which displays ECG of the patient undergoing the exercise. The centre is manned by cardiologists, cardiac rehab specialists, physiotherapists, psychologist and nutritionists. To boot, it conducts yoga classes and is equipped with emergency trolley, a shower room and a changing room.

The cardiac rehabilitation centre of Cumbala Hill hospital is equally abuzz with at least 25 patients seen exercising on a treadmill and cycling daily.

Dr Aashish Contractor monitors a patient’s exercise at the rehab centre of Asian Heart Institute and Research Centre

These centres signify the new trend of cardiac patients advised to exercise their way to good health, a stark contrast with earlier times when even cardiologists had qualms about advising cardiac patients to exercise. As Dr Ramakant Panda, CEO, AHIRC, puts it “Cardiac care has gone beyond the confines of medicine. We believe in holistic healing.”

Interestingly, patients are asked to enroll as early as two weeks after a bypass or even a day or two after an angioplasty. And it is not just cardiac patients after undergoing surgery or angioplasty, who are seen exercising at the centre, even patients of high risk group frequent it. The health advice of the patient is not just restricted to exercising. Apart from giving nuggets of wisdom on cardiac care, the patient enjoys the privilege of being advised by a nutritionist on diet, a psychiatrist on ways to boost your spirit and a yoga teacher on ways to control the mind and the body. Patients are referred to various other specialities as and when required.

According to Dr Aashish Contractor, head of cardiac rehabilitation at AHIRC, “A 15-minute lecture by a cardiologist to a patient does not help in hammering the point. We need to show the patient as how to achieve good results, than mere pontification. And this is exactly why monitoring the patient becomes necessary.”

The response for the programme is encouraging, with even doctors attending it. Take for instance 64-year-old GP Dr Kirit Mankad, who opted to undergo exercise at the cardiac rehab centre of AHIRC than the gym located in his building. Dr Mankad, who has been attending the programme three days a week since the last one month, reasons, “I come here to exercise because of the professionally qualified people who monitor it.’ An enthusiastic Mahandra Dadia (74) attributes his wellness after undergoing a bypass to exercising on the treadmill, cycling and water rowing at the centre. The cost of attending the programme is a couple of thousand rupees.

An extension of the cardiac rehabilitation is the cardiac support group “Caring Hearts” for patients and their relatives. “In the future, we would like to include patients of other hospitals in the support group,” says Dr Panda.

Though, the beginning has been made, the pace of progress of cardiac rehabilitation has not been impressive. Explains Dr Kiran Sangani, head of cardiac rehabilitation, Cumbala Hill hospital, “The progress has been slow because of the prevalent myth that a cardiac patient should take rest and refrain from exercising. This is coupled with the lack of awareness among cardiologists about the importance of exercise and yoga.”

At a city like Mumbai, where space is at premium, it is difficult to devote space to build such a centre, says Dr Contractor, adding, “The fear that a doctor might lose his patient to the cardiac rehabilitation team is another hindrance.” Other hospitals, in their own capacity are emphasising on cardiac rehabilitation. Says Dr K G Nair, CEO, Holy Spirit hospital, “I introduce my patients to undertake yoga, meditation and exercise.” Physician Dr G Sainani, who runs hypertension clinic at Jaslok hospital, says that he spends more than 45 minutes with each cardiac patient, explaining them the techniques of relaxation and yoga, apart from other de-stressing exercises.