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Mending a Heart with Cardiac Rehabilitation
When a heart problem was detected in a 57-year-old Brick resident, it was a particularly frightening
moment. Both of her parents died from heart disease in their 50s.
Betty Schinestuhl was already under the watchful eye of her
physician because of her family history of heart disease. As
someone who struggled with her weight — which also can
contribute to health problems — Betty heeded her doctor's advice
to see a cardiologist for a stress test.
She went to Pragnesh Patel, M.D., a board certified interventional
cardiologist at Ocean Medical Center.
Betty's stress test indicated a blockage in the artery that supplies
blood to the front wall of the heart. She required a cardiac
catheterization, which Dr. Patel calls the "gold standard" for
detecting heart artery blockages.
During a cardiac catheterization, catheters are advanced from the
groin or arms to the heart arteries while the patient is sedated. Iodine
dye is injected to help doctors assess the health of the arteries. If a
blockage is detected, it is then treated by inserting a balloon to dilate
the artery, and then placing a stent to keep the artery open.
Betty had two stents placed in her arteries to restore blood flow.
The procedure was done at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
A few weeks later, her doctor suggested that she participate in a
special cardiac rehabilitation program at Ocean Medical Center.
"Heart disease is the number one killer of women," says Dr. Patel.
"For those who have been diagnosed and treated, cardiac rehabilitation
is an excellent way to return to heart health and move toward a
healthier lifestyle."
The cardiac rehabilitation program at Ocean Medical Center
is offered at Meridian Life Fitness, a full-service gym located
within the hospital. In addition to modern exercise equipment
and facilities, the program offers education and support from a
team of experts that includes:
- Cardiologists
- Respiratory therapists
- Exercise physiologists
- Registered nurses who create a custom treatment plan for each person
For the next three months, Betty went to cardiac rehab three
times a week. All sessions were supervised by health care professionals
and recorded via a heart monitor to chart her progress.
"At first I was nervous about starting cardiac rehab, but the staff
was so supportive," says Betty. "They took my blood pressure at
each session and monitored me every step of the way. It put me at
ease knowing I was in good hands."
After graduating from the rehab program, Betty and her fiancé,
John Cedeno, joined as regular members of Meridian Life Fitness
Center and work out three times a week. "I like the idea of being
there with clinical people who know what they are doing and can
help if there's a problem," notes Betty.
Best of all, Betty has found new energy to play with her three
grandsons and lead a more active life.
 – Donna Sellmann
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