A little over two years ago I had a heart attack at the age of 61. It was a scary time and a time to
evaluate my lifestyle and take steps to become healthier. I have always been active but have not always made the best decisions concerning my health. I had smoked for many years, did not work out and was not overly concerned about my diet. While I was not overweight and did not feel like I was out of shape, I had certainly done some damage to my body.
After my heart attack, my cardiologist had me visit with a dietitian and recommended that I enroll in a cardiac and pulmonary rehab program.
I was so blessed to have an SSM Health Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab location only five minutes from my home. Truly, I didn’t know how blessed I was!
One of the scariest parts of having a heart issue is you don’t know how far you can push yourself physically and you tend to feel that any ache or pain, particularly in your chest area, must be another attack.
The staff at SSM Health was absolutely great! They guided me slowly throughout physical activity and monitored me throughout the process. Gradually they increased the amount of physical activity that I could tolerate. Eventually I was able to push myself to a great degree. This process gave me a great deal of confidence that I could push myself to that degree when not at rehab!
The staff was very knowledgeable, professional, and caring! With their help and assistance, I feel like I am in better shape than I was 20 years ago. I believe they have provided a nice template for healthy living that I can carry with me throughout the rest of my life. What a blessing!
James Anacker
Wisconsin Dells, WI
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