According to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. While medical advances have helped more people live longer with cardiovascular diseases, many of the risk factors which lead to these diseases, including high blood pressure and obesity, continue to grow at alarming rates. Types of cardiovascular diseases include stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia and congenital heart disease, to list a few.
The second full week of American Heart Month marks Cardiac Rehab Week, which aims to draw attention to the role of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing the harmful effects of heart disease. Changing or lowering your risk factors can prevent heart disease by 80%. Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the best treatments to gaining a stronger heart and overall wellbeing.
Logan Health – Conrad (LHC) Cardiac Rehab Department offers a supervised program designed to help improve a patient’s cardiovascular health after experiencing a heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty or heart surgery. The LHC cardiac rehab team consists of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and dieticians. Through an individualized program, patients learn how to properly exercise to promote a healthy heart, learn about heart-healthy living, medications, how to manage risk factors for heart disease and how to reduce stress. Patients usually attend cardiac rehab for two to sixteen weeks.
“Cardiac rehab is not only important to treat your heart problem, but it also provides the educational tools to continue to live a healthy lifestyle and lessen your chances of another heart event,” said Stephanie Nelson, Logan Health – Conrad Cardiopulmonary Coordinator.
Many recent cardiac rehab graduates are local patients who are grateful they were able to receive exceptional care close to home. A patient from Choteau recalled what they enjoyed most throughout the program, “The personal one-on-one care, very informative and great conversation. We’re so glad we chose Conrad as our care service. Everyone works so well together. Thank you for caring.” A Valier resident patient stated that the “program exceeded my expectations.”
The son of a pulmonary rehab patient from Conrad recently praised the quality of the individualized program offered at LHC. “Stephanie is totally committed to her patients, and she continues to give my 95-year-old father the care, kindness and concern he deserves as a pulmonary rehab patient as a post-COVID patient. I am so pleased she works with Dr. Taylor to give dad the best and most care he could get.”
“My patients continue to impress me with their results from the first day I meet them until the day they graduate,” said Nelson. “I don’t think they realize how much they inspire other patients and people around them.”
This month is a reminder to take charge of your heart health and know the risk factors for heart disease. If you think you may qualify for the cardiac rehab program, speak with your physician or call Logan Health – Conrad Cardiac Rehab Department at (406) 271-3211.