Living Longer With Heart Rehab

People do better after a heart attack or bypass surgery if they stick with their rehab program, says a study. The study looked at Medicare records for 30,000 people. All of them had been hospitalized for a heart attack, a bypass operation or long-term, severe chest pain. All went to at least one session of a cardiac rehabilitation program. They learned about how to exercise more, eat better and quit smoking. About 11% of people who went to all 36 sessions died in the next three years. About 18% of those who went to fewer than 12 sessions died. People who went to more sessions also were less likely to have a heart attack. The journal Circulation published the study results. The Associated Press wrote about it December 22.