[title subtitle=”WORds and images: courtesy Alicia Agent, Director Marketing Communications, Baptist Health – Fort Smith”][/title]
On a cold morning that might have made anyone else want to stay in bed, Matthew Sorrell is buzzing with a contagious energy at Marvin Altman Fitness Center inside Baptist Health – Fort Smith.
The sixty-one-year-old veteran can’t help but brag about his newfound vitality. He doesn’t look like a man who just last spring was in an emergency room experiencing symptoms of a heart attack.
Matthew has suffered from chest pain since the late nineties. He also struggled with diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and fatigue. Over the years, he underwent multiple surgeries, including one in May, to place stents in his coronary arteries, as well as a quintuple bypass in 2016. It wasn’t until his physician with the Veterans Affairs office referred him to the Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offered at Baptist Health – Fort Smith that he found relief.
“It was a turning point for me; I was in such a rut physically and emotionally, but I knew I didn’t want to die,” Matthew said. “I made a commitment to do this hard, every single session – one through thirty-six.”
Patients who experience cardiovascular disease are at risk for psychological symptoms such as depression, loneliness and anxiety and these symptoms can slow recovery time and lead to greater health issues. However, patients who participate in cardiac rehab are less likely to experience depression and other symptoms, according to the American College of Cardiology.
“It’s normal to feel sad or angry after a heart attack or diagnosis of heart disease,” said Nasser Adjei, Interventional Cardiologist with Baptist Health Cardiology Center – Fort Smith. “Taking a patient’s mental health into consideration and making sure they have a support system in place is very important to a patient’s recovery.”
During the three-month program, Matthew lost nearly thirty pounds and lowered his blood sugar through a customized exercise and nutrition program. He’s become an active member of the fitness center and has made great friends that inspire him to exercise, eat well and reach his goals each day.
“God put me in this program and surrounded me with a team that motivates and inspires me here at Baptist Health,” Matthew said. “I feel brand new.”
Proper exercise becomes increasingly important as we age and can help reduce dependence on medications and future hospitalizations. With that in mind, cardiac rehab is a team effort that begins in the hospital following a heart attack or other heart-related illness or procedure. The program at Baptist Health – Fort Smith combines expert education and supervised exercise therapy in the comfort of Marvin Altman Fitness Center. Each program is tailored to the patient’s needs and abilities. They learn how to incorporate heart-healthy habits such as a proper diet, exercise and stress management techniques that can lead to a better quality of life. Medication education and management is also part of the program to ensure patients are taking the appropriate medications for their condition.
“After cardiac rehab, patients are often able to increase their ability to do things like carry groceries, walk to the mailbox, and maintain self-care which is critical for their independence and improved health,” according to Dr. Adjei.
Once monitoring is no longer necessary, patients continue with a customized exercise program and learn how to incorporate activity into their lifestyle. During the maintenance phase of rehabilitation, continuing education helps reinforce healthy habits long-term. Through his insurance provider, Matthew is also taking advantage of the SilverSneakers program for seniors at the fitness center and using the facility’s workout equipment and indoor pool.
Now that his health has improved, Matthew says he plans to return to the workforce and his renewed health has given him the opportunity and energy to volunteer in the River Valley. “I was existing, not living. Cardiac rehab was a springboard that got me back in shape and able to enjoy life.”
For more information about cardiac rehabilitation, talk to your cardiologist or visit BaptistHealthFortSmith.com.
Are You Eligible for Cardiac Rehab?
According to the American Heart Association, you may benefit from cardiac rehab if you have experienced the following:
•Heart attack
•Heart condition such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
•Heart procedure or surgery including bypass, valve replacement, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator
