In medicine, a treatment that saves lives, improves quality of life, saves money and is supported by clear evidence should be a slam-dunk. Especially if it treats heart disease — the second-biggest cause of death in Canada.

So why do fewer than one-quarter of heart patients get cardiac rehab?

Today in The Conversation Canada, Sherry Grace of York University explains that cardiac rehab includes exercise, diet, lifestyle and psychosocial elements, and significantly reduces the risk of a future cardiac event. That’s why researchers have been exploring solutions to increasing its use, including improving accessibility and changing the way the health system funds it.

Also today:

All the best, 

Patricia Nicholson

Health + Medicine Editor
Cardiac rehab is an outpatient chronic disease management program covering exercise, diet, lifestyle and psychosocial elements in hour-long sessions about twice per week over several months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Cardiac rehab for heart patients saves lives and money, so why isn’t it used more?

Sherry L. Grace, York University, Canada

Cardiac rehabilitation is a low-cost approach with proven benefits for heart patients, that drastically lowers future cardiac risks. So why do only 10 to 25 per cent of heart patients access it?
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Suspending mackerel and spring herring fishing in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence will impact the fishing industry on many levels.

La Conversation Canada
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