Question 1

Are you sure it is safe for me to exercise with a heart concern?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

There is almost no condition that exercise doesn't benefit from regular exercise.

We know it can be daunting to get active after a heart event or hearing that you may be at risk of heart disease, but our Cardiac Rehab and Heart Wellness programmes have been designed to comply with the latest national guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation, supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the British Association of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR).

Every session is led by a specialist Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist and you will exercise using real-time heart rate monitoring - allowing us to ensure that you are exercising at a safe and effective level.

Question 2

Is the Heart Wellness or Cardiac Rehabilitation programme right for me?

Accepted Answer

Our Cardiac Rehab programme is right for you if you are currently recovering from a heart event or surgery. The programme will aid your recovery and reduce your risk of recurring problems in the future, whilst helping you to get active. The programme has been designed to get you back to being fit and active through medically supervised exercise whilst sharing ways to live a heart healthy lifestyle.

Our Heart Wellness programme is for anyone who is worried about their heart health. Our six week programme focuses on getting you active, through medically guided exercises. Each week we will help to strengthen your heart, whilst increasing your overall fitness and share lifestyle tips to improve your heart health.

Question 3

What conditions can we help support?

Accepted Answer

Our Heart Wellness programme is designed as a preventative approach to heart health, so anyone can attend. However it those with concerns about particular risk factors for heart disease would benefit the most. These risk factors include: High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking and a family history of heart disease

Our Cardiac Rehab programme is designed specifically for those with a diagnosed cardiovascular condition or recovering from a heart event or treatment / surgery.
These include: 
 • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

• Heart Attack/Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

• Coronary Angioplasty/Stent

• Coronary Bypass Surgery

• Heart Valve Repair/Replacement

• Stable Angina

• Heart Failure

If you are unsure whether we can support you please drop us an email and we can arrange a time to talk through your specific condition. info@optimahearthealth.com

Question 4

What conditions is Cardiac Rehab beneficial for?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac Rehabilitation is the recommended recovery treatment for:
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) 
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) (Angioplasty/Stent)
Heart Failure
Stable Angina
Heart Valve Repair/Replacement
Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)

If you would like any further information we'd be more than happy to chat through your case, simply pop us an email info@optimahearthealth.com

Question 5

What are benefits of exercising in a group?

Accepted Answer

We have designed our programmes to be completed over a series of 6, weekly, small group sessions, as we believe the benefits are endless. 
 
Our aim is to create a community of people who care about their heart health, and can support each other in their individual journeys.  As a result, we have designed our sessions to help you forge friendships, find motivation and develop consistency in your journey to becoming more active and make improvements to your lifestyle.

However, we won't forget about you! 
Whilst we believe you will gain more from a group session, we will always ensure that the activities are tailored to you, and your individual capabilities; maximising safety and effectiveness.

Question 6

Is Optima Heart Health Cardiac Rehab different from the NHS offering?

Accepted Answer

After a heart event or surgery it is standard practice within the NHS to receive a referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation services.

Our programme is designed to enhance the NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation offering and help to further increase your fitness and activity levels.

We strongly advise that you attend all NHS follow up appointments

Question 7

What makes you qualified to help me?

Accepted Answer

Our Therapy Lead Tom Kellock is a specialist Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist, with 16 years experience working with patients with a wide range of Cardiorespiratory diseases, across a range of healthcare settings from Intensive Care Units to Outpatient clinics. Tom has a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy and a Masters degree in Advanced Cardiorespiratory Studies, and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the British Association of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR).

Frequently Asked Questions