Cardiac Rehabilitation

Description of Department/Service

The Tallaght University Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme aims to provide patients with the highest quality cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention service in partnership with the Consultant Cardiologists, multidisciplinary team members, patients and their families.

The focus of our Cardiac Rehabilitation programme is to assist the patient in his/her recovery after a cardiac event, improve self-confidence and enhance the wellbeing of the entire family unit.

The staff in Cardiac Rehabilitation promote a healthy heart lifestyle through education and example, working as a multidisciplinary team to maximise the care provided.

We aim to promote learning and provide a supportive environment for all staff, respecting each other’s needs, abilities and potential.
Other Services Offered in Cardiac Rehabilitation include:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for patients & families, the first such initiative in the Republic of Ireland
• Relaxation CD available for purchase from the CR department
• Patient information in DVD or book form on cardiovascular disease and heart health

Useful Links

Irish Heart Foundation
www.Irishheart.ie
British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention
www.bacpr.com
Department of Health
http://health.gov.ie/
Croi - West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation
www.croi.ie
Action on Smoking and Health
www.ASH.ie
Healthy Ireland

Patient Information

Cardiac Rehabilitation 
This leaflet introduces the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department and explains the service we provide.

This short presentation is designed to provide you with basic information on cardiac medications. It includes important information about what you should know regarding taking these medications. It also includes some information about specific medications for example: Aspirin, Statins and Beta-blockers. Please view the presentation as part of the education programme for cardiac rehab. You can find further information on cardiac medication via this link. 

Psychological Effects of a Cardiac Event
This booklet is designed to help you understand feelings and sensations that occur in your body after a cardiac event.  It will also help improve your wellbeing and psychological recovery. 

Hearts & Minds 
“Heart and Minds” is a presentation on the psychological effects and emotional impact that can occur when someone has a cardiac event.  It helps patients to understand their reactions, gain back confidence and integrate the meaning of this event in their lives.  Experiences garnered from previous patients are shared as a way of normalising reactions and providing a way through the experience of something like this happening, usually unexpectedly, to a person.  

Irish Heart Foundation 
The Irish Heart Foundation provides a lot of support for people following a cardiac event. You can find further information on cardiac rehabilitation and cardiovascular health via this link. 

Homebased Exercise Programme
This exercise programme was designed by the physiotherapy team in TUH and is suitable for home use following your discharge from hospital. 

Risk Factors
There are a number of risk factors that can lead to heart disease or stroke, the good news is that many of these factors can be changed by changing your lifestyle, taking exercise, looking at your diet. However there are things none of us can control such as your age or family history. Below are links to a number of videos that focus on the things that you can change, they are short videos and would be helpful for you to watch and learn more about cardiovascular disease and what you can do about it. 

- Introduction to Cardiovascular Disease 
- Introduction to Risk Factors
- Smoking and your Heart
- Cholesterol
- Understanding your Weight
- Eating for Heart Health 
- Alcohol Consumption
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Physical Activity
- Stress