ABSTRACT
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally with 17.3 million deaths and among US men and women is a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults in the United States, accounting for about one-third of all deaths in subjects over age 35. Irreversible risk factors include male gender, past history of vascular disease, age, and family history. Clinical trials during the past two decades have provided conclusive evidence of reduced mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease via the reduction of individual risk factors by pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient outcomes and quality of life after a heart attack by providing a multidisciplinary approach to reducing cardiovascular risk and preventing secondary cardiac events and serious sequelae. The risk of cardiovascular complications from exercise training should be evaluated before starting an exercise program.
