Millions of Americans suffer from heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. In 2020 alone, heart disease accounted for about 697,000 deaths in this country, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division. That’s one of every five deaths.

Fortunately, St. Luke’s University Health Network offers cardiac rehabilitation, which reduces the risk of dying from a subsequent event when completed following a heart attack or other cardiac event.

St. Luke’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is available in seven locations, including St. Luke’s Miners Campus and St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus, which will relocate to St. Luke’s Carbon Campus in August. The center is open five days a week and sees patients with both heart and lung issues.

St. Luke’s Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised outpatient program of moderate activity and education, explained physical therapist Mary Fulton and exercise physiologist Erika Sacks of St. Luke’s Cardiac Rehabilitation in Lehighton.

Besides heart attack survivors, cardiac rehabilitation may be appropriate for patients who have had bypass or valve repair/replacement surgery, stenting, stable angina or congestive heart failure.

A team of cardiologists, nurses, physical therapists and exercise physiologists help patients resume their unrestricted activities and assist them with the lifestyle modifications needed to avoid a future heart problem. The medically supervised outpatient program uses telemetry monitoring devices to measure the patient’s heartbeat during exercise.

“When you come to cardiac rehab, not only are we monitoring your vitals - heart rate and blood pressure - but you’re on telemetry, which automatically records and transmits data,” Sacks said. “If we see something concerning, we contact the cardiologist. It helps to speed anything that needs to be changed.” The telemetry system helps patients learn what their vital signs should be during rest and exertion, so they remain in the safe range.

Regrettably, however, more people could benefit from cardiac rehabilitation, Fulton said.

“Nationally, only 56% of eligible patients are referred to cardiac rehab,” she said. “Of the 56% referred, 24% participate and of those, only 27 to 41% complete the program. Typically, cardiac rehabilitation consists of one-hour sessions for 12 to 18 weeks. Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans cover the cost of cardiac rehabilitation.

However, the success of cardiac rehabilitation depends in part on the patient’s goals and commitment to meeting them. Sacks recalled a marathon runner who had bypass surgery and became deconditioned during his recovery but was motivated to run again.

The Parryville man, who prefers not to share his name, had a history of heart disease. In 2011 he ran the St. Luke’s half marathon, and when he had his blood pressure taken in the health tent, it was very high. He finished the race, but later St. Luke’s cardiologists determined his right artery was 99% blocked. Surgeons removed the blockage. The man, a Marine Corps veteran, continued to run marathons, including the Boston Marathon five times. Then in 2021, he ran a race where runners must run 4.16 miles every hour. After 21 miles, he wasn’t feeling well. He stopped and had his pulse taken. It was 204. A typical pulse rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

Subsequently, his cardiologist diagnosed a significant blockage in the man’s left descending artery (LAD), a major pipeline for blood. The blockage can cause “widow maker” heart attacks. The man had the surgery in October 2021 and began cardiac rehabilitation in November, the earliest his doctor would allow.

“My goal was to run in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January,” the man said, who attended cardiac rehabilitation from November through February and achieved his goal. Almost a year after his surgery, he ran in the Chicago marathon.

“I think a lot of Mary and Erika,” he said. “They gave me the peace of mind to exercise without fear of pushing myself too hard or too little. The team you have in Lehighton is outstanding. I watched them interact with other patients. They helped them in the way they needed help, tailoring the care to the patient’s personal goals. I highly recommend them.”