Cardiac Event and Rehab Brings New Lease on Life

On a Saturday morning earlier this year, 59-year-old Alfredo Macias was feeling a little under the weather as he got ready for work. He was slightly short of breath but didn’t think much of it and headed out. That evening, Alfredo felt like a cold was coming on as he went to bed. About an hour later, he woke up barely able to breathe! His wife rushed him to the nearest hospital emergency department near their San Jose home. Tests and imaging showed one of Alfredo’s heart valves had failed. He was in atrial fibrillation (AFib) and his heart was not pumping normally, so his lungs were filling with fluid. On Tuesday, he underwent surgery to repair his heart valve. That frightening series of events and the rehabilitation that followed has changed Alfredo’s life for the better.

Alfredo was instructed by his cardiologist to undergo a cardiac rehabilitation program after he recovered from surgery. He contacted the rehab center near his home that he was referred to, but they couldn’t get him in for two months. Since Alfredo works at Washington Hospital, and he knew they had an Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, he began a three-month rehab program there.

“Choosing Washington Hospital for my cardiac rehab was one of the best decisions I could have made,” recalled Alfredo. “The program director welcomed me and explained the whole process. Then the excellent therapists coached me on how to work out using the exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine and Stairmaster, all the while monitoring my heart rate and regularly checking my blood pressure. I also appreciated the support I got from all my new friends who had been through what I had and who I got to see in my class three days a week.”

Cardiac rehabilitation is a personalized program of education and exercise designed to improve the health of people with heart disease, or who have had a heart attack or heart surgery. It usually involves exercise training, emotional support and education about living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle habits include staying active, managing body weight, eating a nutritious diet, and quitting smoking if needed.

“I graduated from rehab last week and I feel physically stronger now than I did before that night my heart valve broke,” Alfredo continued. “But what is just as important to the rehab process is the mental aspect. Sharing stories with others who are dealing with heart issues is valuable because they understand what you’re going through. Some of the people in my class had graduated from rehab but chose to continue coming to classes – some of them for several years – to keep up their cardiovascular fitness, which is inspiring.”

In addition to his job as Food and Nutrition Services Manager, Alfredo enjoys being outside gardening and barbequing. But now, he takes time to go for walks and avoids the sedentary lifestyle he was living before. He admits to paying more attention to how he feels now instead of ignoring physical changes, no matter how gradual they may be.

“Before I got seriously ill,” he shared, “I had been noticing that instead of my morning routine taking 30 minutes before I left the house for work, it was taking a little longer as time went on. I just attributed it to getting older. But now I know it’s because I had a problem with my heart. My advice for others is to monitor how you are feeling and keep in touch with your doctor about any changes. You don’t always get big red flags that something is wrong, so pay attention to the small things.”

Appointments with a rehab specialist at the Washington Hospital Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Center require a physician referral. Talk to your primary care physician or cardiologist to see if cardiac rehab services are right for you. For more information about cardiac rehabilitation at Washington Hospital, visit whhs.com/services/cardiac-services/cardiac-rehabilitation/