P.E.I. heart and lung rehab program expanding

Islanders recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, as well as thoseliving with a pulmonary condition such as chronic lung disease orCOPD, will soon have access to rehab services closer to home.

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A new cardiopulmonary rehab program being piloted in Charlottetown will expand to Summerside by this fall, and planning for a Montague-based program will also start, the province announced Tuesday in a written release.

The government announced $325,000 will be spent annually to run the programs in all three locations.

It's very hard after you go through something like this to know exactly what to do and how to do it. Shawn Connolly, cardiac rehab patient

"This 12-week program has proven to be very successful in helping patients regain their strength, rebuild their confidence and make healthy living a part of their daily lives after a heart or lung event," said Health and Wellness Minister Robert Henderson.

The program began at UPEI in January with 17 patients as a three-month lung rehabilitation pilot, which expanded in April to include a cardiac component. Now, 30 Islanders, referred by a doctor or nurse practitioner, are participating in program.

'Very scary' cardiac event

"Without the knowledge and support of program staff, I would not have the confidence to rehab in a way that is beneficial to both my body and mind while minimizing risk of another cardiac event," said participant Shawn Connolly.

Connolly recently had a cardiac event that was "very scary and left me unsure of what to do," he said.

"This program has meant so much to my family."

"It's very hard after you go through something like this to know exactly what to do and how to do it. And you worry, 'Am I doing too much, am I doing too little?' And sometimes it creates an inability to do anything," Connolly said.

Offered twice a week for 12 weeks, the program teaches patients how to manage physical and psychological symptoms, helping to improve patients' recovery, increase physical stamina and reduce the risk of further problems.

"The changes we have seen in participants as their knowledge and strength both physical and mental improves is inspiring," said respiratory therapist Heather Cyr.

"Watching fears diminish and physical abilities improve over 12 short weeks is very rewarding," she added, noting the program can lessen future requirements of the health care system.

"It empowers the patients," said Cyr. "We're not offering only an exercise program, which is probably what you think of when you think of rehab, but we're also offering education."