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“We want to the prevailing attitude and grandkids, getting back to work Continuing with some sort of
induce changes challenged the medical norm or doing the grocery shopping. exercise regime after the program
in the physiology at that point. But now, in Everyone leaves a very different ends is crucial, and for those
many areas of medicine, we person. There is definitely a who see it through –70 per cent
of the heart. are embracing the fact that psychological component to the of participants do – there are
We want to eating, stopping smoking and program,” she says. a variety of options available,
change how being active play a huge role in including a free three-month
well the heart determining what happens to us The nuts and bolts of the membership at GoodLife Fitness
performs and long term – whether we live or program incorporate stationary gyms across the city.
improve central die,” he says. bikes, treadmills and arm bikes.
fitness, speed There’s even a 200-metre track In 2012, GoodLife committed
up metabolism The PMCC program, available (inside and outside) at the airy, $5-million to the PMCC in a
and change a at two sites in Toronto – Toronto impressive Rumsey site. first-of-its-kind, public-private
person’s outlook Western Hospital and Toronto collaboration to advance cardiac
long term.” Rehab’s Rumsey Centre – has “Everyone starts off with a care and preventative programs.
been established for decades, walking program based on their
Dr. Paul Oh, and it is one of largest and most fitness level,” Ms. Skeffington The collaboration led to the
Medical Director and GoodLife Chair comprehensive of about 55 in the explains. appointment of Dr. Oh as the
of the Cardiovascular Prevention and province. inaugural GoodLife Chair in
Rehabilitation Program at the Peter Munk “We do weight training, cardiovascular rehabilitation and
Cardiac Centre and Toronto Rehab “We see people across the stretching and take an prevention.
age spectrum and also see an interdisciplinary approach, and
program can make is “critically expanded population of people we have mindfulness, eating, “A tenet of the cardiac program
important” for people recovering with stroke, cancer and diabetes nutrition and stress-management is that people can carry on
from a wide range of heart who have the same risk factors,” education.” afterward,” Dr. Oh says.
episodes, says Dr. Paul Oh, Dr. Oh explains.
Medical Director and GoodLife The social aspect to the program “Not only does this offer
Chair of the Cardiovascular “We want to induce changes cannot be underestimated. a continuum for people to
Prevention and Rehabilitation in the physiology of the heart. transition from hospital to
Program at the Peter Munk We want to change how “Peer support is very important. community, but also the PMCC
Cardiac Centre and Toronto well the heart performs and That person sitting beside you trains GoodLife instructors in
Rehab. improve central fitness, speed may have been your roommate how to deal with cardiac recovery
up metabolism and change a and knows your situation,” she customers.”
“It’s as important as anything person’s outlook long term,” he says.
we can do in medicine. We can says. Rehab by
cut the chance of dying by 25 The sessions take place in a the numbeRs
to 50 per cent and reduce re- The program is tailored to each group format once a week for 90
hospitalization by 25 per cent. individual, but “the commonality minutes, but participants should More than 1.4 million Canadians
It’s as powerful as taking meds or between everyone in the program also exercise on their own four have heart disease.
stopping smoking,” says Dr. Oh. is that they are learning how times a week.
to get active and manage their Heart disease is one of the
The therapeutic approach condition in a safe, progressive This can be a new concept for leading causes of death in
embodied by the Peter Munk and effective manner,” Dr. Oh many, Ms. Skeffington notes. Canada, claiming more than
Cardiac Centre program goes adds. 33,600 lives each year.
back to the 1960s, when doctors “We see a lot of women who
presented the notion that the key Being supervised and having the were never involved in physical Cardiac rehab can prevent
to recovering from a heart attack safety net of a multidisciplinary activities; it’s a very new thing to death by 25 to 50% and reduce
was to get active, says Dr. Oh. team of ask them to exercise, so what we hospitalization by 25%.
experts – a psychologist, are asking has to be reasonable
“This was very different to dietitian, nurse, kinesiologist, and realistic. For older people – The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
physiotherapist and occupational we have an 88-year-old at the has two rehab sites: Toronto
Nathan Haymada, left, and therapist – is what makes the moment – they go at their own Western Hospital and the Rumsey
Dr. Paul Oh discuss the cardiac rehab program so pace. We are not asking them to Centre, which has a 200-metre
importance of being active appealing and so important, says run a marathon, just asking them track, inside and out.
in the PMCC prevention and Valerie Skeffington, Manager of to get stronger within their own
rehabilitation program. the Cardiovascular Prevention limitations. For some, the goal is The program sees about 2,600
and Rehabilitation Program at just to live to see another day.” people annually.
the University Health Network
(UHN). Some people do end up running Group sessions last for
marathons, though, says Dr. Oh. 90 minutes, one day per week:
“Our patients come here directly 30 minutes of education and
after hospital, typically within “People tell us they not only 60 minutes of exercise.
three weeks of an event. They recover from the heart condition, Participants are expected to
aren’t sure what they are in for, but also get to a state where they complete four sessions on
and there is always hesitancy and are as strong as they have been their own.
a bit of anxiety. But they start to in years, or ever, so it’s a very
build confidence and competency. exciting transition,” he says. A full 70% of participants
It’s about getting people back to complete the program.
being active, back to themselves, “People get to the stage where
whether that means playing with we can say, without being
facetious, ‘Congratulations!
You’ve had a heart attack. Now
there’s a chance to regain your
life in a way that’s under your
control.’”
Winter 2016 49
