Why cardiac rehab saves lives

Cardiac rehabilitation can be extremely effective, yet most people choose to avoid it. New research may make them think twice. Cardiac rehabilitation can improve the ability of the heart to return quickly to a normal rate after exercise, and that in turn can double the chances of survival. "Time and time again, cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to improve survival, to improve quality of life, and of course improve exercise capacity," says researcher Leslie Cho, MD, section head of preventive cardiology and rehabilitation at the Cleveland Clinic. However, experts debate whether it's possible to reverse an abnormally slow return to a normal heart rate, and if doing so can lengthen life. The new research sheds light on both points. "For the first time, we have shown that cardiac rehabilitation can train the heart to return to its normal rate quickly after exercise and improve survival. This is better than any medicine," Cho says. The study is published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association