BANGOR — A “regular” of Northern Light Cardiac Rehabilitation attributes the program to his success after two cardiac events, thirty years apart. Peter Boucher, a Cardiac Rehab graduate from Hampden, is 74 years old, and has been an active member of his community his whole life. Things changed for Peter at the age of 42, when he had his first heart attack. That was the first time he entered the Cardiac Rehab program, and when his life began to shift for the better. After two more cardiac events, Peter is living the life he knew he could, all because of the Cardiac Rehab program at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Patients who attend Cardiac Rehab have:
- 20-47 percent lower risk of death and 31 percent lower risk of heart attack than cardiac event survivors who didn’t participate in rehab
- a reduced rate of having a second, non-fatal heart attack
- reduced hospitalizations
- reduced symptoms such as angina, shortness of breath, and fatigue
- increased exercise performance
- increased knowledge about cardiac disease and its management
- improved health-related quality of life
Cardiac Rehab is a customized outpatient program of exercise and education. It’s designed to help improve a patient’s health and recover from a heart attack, other forms of heart disease, or surgery to treat heart valve problems. Despite advances in modern medicine, heart disease is the number one killer in America. If a community member has a recent cardiac event or diagnosis, the best way to recuperate is through a rehabilitation program that combines monitored exercise and healthy lifestyle education programming. Northern Light Cardiac Rehab can provide the support needed for a successful recovery and a life of healthy living.
In Peter’s words, the team is fabulous, and on top of everything, always! “If you’ve had a heart attack, do the rehab program, it is there for you and the rest of your life will thank you.”
To learn more about the Northern Light Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, talk to your primary or specialty care provider, visit northernlighthealth.org/emmc-cardiacrehab or call 207-973-4600.