Specialists at Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare are highlighting the critical link between cardiac care and rehabilitation this February for Heart Month. The initiative focuses on helping patients manage heart health challenges and build lifelong habits during the winter season.
Cold weather places additional stress on the heart, leading to an increased risk of cardiac events during northern Michigan winters. Structured support programs, such as the Better Breathing program, aim to help patients improve their oxygen exchange and physical endurance through monitored exercise and specialized techniques.
Dr. Jennifer Emmons, a cardiac specialist, explained that environmental factors in winter cause physiological changes that strain the cardiovascular system. These changes include increased blood pressure, a higher heart rate and the constriction of blood vessels. “So cold weather does put extra stress on the heart. It makes some changes, like your platelets can become more sticky. Your blood can thicken. Blood pressure increases, heart rate increases in your blood vessels can constrict. Those all put extra stress on the heart. So that can increase the risk of an event,” Emmons said. Emmons also noted that common seasonal chores like snow shoveling can act as a trigger for heart attacks. She described shoveling as a high-intensity exercise that can overwhelm individuals who do not maintain a regular fitness routine.
“Another, special thing that happens in the winter is shoveling and it’s a really high intensity exercise,” Emmons said. “So if you’re someone who doesn’t normally exercise, that could be a huge stress on the heart.” The Better Breathing program was developed to assist patients who struggle with daily activities due to shortness of breath. Lia Polemitis, a registered physical therapist, stated that the initiative serves a broad patient population, including those with heart failure and lung disease.
“The Better breathing program was really designed to capture that group of people that are having a really difficult time or challenging time to do their regular activities,” Polemitis said. “And the biggest challenge is they don’t feel like they can breathe or catch their breath, which for anybody is the hugest, scariest thing.” Rehabilitation efforts combine medical management with physical activity to monitor how patients respond to exertion. Polemitis emphasized that this teamwork allows patients to gain confidence in their physical abilities through monitored sessions.
“I can then exercise this patient and monitor the response to exercise. And thus the patient can see, wow, I really can walk on the treadmill for 4 minutes. Oh my gosh, I’ve never done this before,” Polemitis said. She noted that movement is essential for maintaining heart health, often referring to the concept that “motion is lotion” for his patients.
The program focuses on breathing techniques, flexibility and endurance to help patients function effectively within their homes and communities. Research into structured rehabilitation programs shows a significant correlation between fitness and longevity. For highly debilitated patients, increasing their fitness level by one metabolic equivalent can result in a 30% decrease in all-cause mortality. Other participants in structured programs can see a 13% decrease in mortality risk.