Cardiac Rehabilitation – Your Ideal Recovery from a Heart Attack or Heart Disease
A heart attack can turn your life upside down overnight. And other heart conditions are no different. All of a sudden, being fit is no longer the issue, instead it is about feeling safe in your own body again, rebuilding strength, and restoring trust in your physical abilities. This is exactly where cardiac rehab comes into play – it allows you to gradually stabilize your heart health so you can get back to living your best life.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation – which encompasses rehab after a heart attack or heart surgery – is a specialized rehab program for people who have had a heart attack, have undergone heart surgery, or who suffer from chronic heart disease. It combines medical care, targeted cardiovascular training, and advice on lifestyle and nutrition.
The aim is to increase physical endurance, reduce risk factors, and restore confidence in your own body. It focuses on three key factors:
- Medical safety – close monitoring by specialist doctors and adjustments to medication.
- Targeted physical training – to gradually improve endurance, strength, and mobility.
- Stress and lifestyle management – healthy nutrition, conscious stress management, and strategies to prevent relapse.
Cardiology rehabilitation gives you exactly the support you need to strengthen your heart over the long term so you can once again lead an active life.
Who should consider cardiac rehab?
Suffering a heart attack is one of the most common and key reasons for people to undergo a cardiac rehabilitation program at a clinic like ours. However, our cardiac rehab clinic also offers excellent programs that are well-suited to other heart conditions. These include:
- Rehabilitation after heart surgery
- Coronary heart disease, including angina pectoris, with or without cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation
- Cardiac muscle diseases, such as heart failure/cardiac insufficiency, myocarditis
- Heart valve diseases with or without intervention
- Heart valve inflammation (endocarditis)
- Psychological stress after heart disease to manage illness and reduce anxiety (psychocardiology)
What does a cardiac rehabilitation program involve?
Inpatient cardiac rehab follows a clear process to ensure progress can be tracked and that the treatment is ideally suited to the patient:
Admission consultation:
medical consultation to define goals together.
Individual therapy plan:
4 to 6 treatments on weekdays and 2 to 3 on Saturdays, tailored to mobility and resilience.
Weekly review:
the treatment team adapts the plan regularly.
Progress checks:
identify progress and determine next steps.
Discharge planning:
targeted preparation for everyday life once the rehab goals are achieved.
Aftercare:
recommendations for exercises, nutrition, and stress management to avoid relapse.
Treatment options for cardiac rehabilitation
Our cardiac rehab clinic combines medical care with targeted exercises and medical consultations. The aim is to strengthen your heart, reduce risk factors, and safely manage everyday life again.
- Outdoor supervised walking training – movement in fresh air, safely accompanied.
- Strength training – for physical development.
- Endurance training – strengthens the cardiovascular system and increases endurance.
- Blood pressure management – stabilizes blood pressure and reduces risk factors.
- Breath relaxation – learn breathing techniques, reduce stress.
- Progressive muscle relaxation – relieves physical tension.
- Nutritional advice – eat for a healthy heart and stabilize energy levels.
- Stop smoking program – support to give up nicotine long-term.
Our specialists in cardiac rehabilitation
Prof. Dr. med. Michele Genoni
Medical Director
Specialist in General Surgery, Intensive Care Medicine, and Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery
German, Italian, English
Dr. med. Stefan Kralev
Chief Physician Cardiology and Internal Medicine
Specialist in Internal Medicine and Cardiology
German, English, French, Russian
Our specialist cardiac rehab clinic
“After successful aortic valve surgery, I was able to spend 3 weeks recovering at the Seewis rehab clinic. The warm atmosphere was evident from the moment we arrived. This was a running theme for the entire stay. The guest is king here. Professionalism and empathy come together, from arrival to room service, meals, physiotherapy, nursing care, doctors right up to the medical director, Dr. M. Genoni. “I got to know and love my ‘new life’ here.”
Ruedi W.
Can a relative accompany me at the clinic?
Families and children are very welcome. Staying overnight with the patient in their room is generally free of charge as we firmly believe that a familiar social environment supports recovery.
The only exceptions to this are severe medical cases for whom being accompanied is not possible due to medical or nursing reasons.
Please discuss your plans with us early on so we can arrange the appropriate accommodation.
Does my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) cover the costs of the rehab?
No, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) usually does not cover any costs of a rehab stay. In most cases, a special cost agreement from your health insurance company is required for the cost of rehabilitation to be covered.
What is a rehab center and how is it different from hospital?
A rehab clinic specializes in the medical and therapeutic aftercare following acute illness or surgery. While hospitals primarily handle acute care, rehab clinics support patients to restore their physical, mental and social capabilities step by step.
Are you interested in a cardiac rehabilitation program? Get in touch to find out more about how we can help.
