More than six million people in the United States have congestive heart failure, which can lead to life-threatening complications when not managed effectively. At Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center in Longwood, Florida, Doctor of Physical Therapy Sergio Sepúlveda Sunez, DPT, offers comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and therapy for adults with stable chronic heart failure. Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment by calling the office or requesting one online today.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a type of heart disease in which your heart doesn’t pump blood efficiently enough to keep up with your body’s demands. Left untreated, blood can build up in certain areas of your body, such as your feet, legs, or lungs. However, treating heart failure helps you avoid complications. 

Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center offers treatments for stable chronic heart failure, or heart failure that’s being medically managed. Dr. Sepúlveda Sunez takes a holistic, patient-centered, and integrative approach to care.

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Symptoms that may appear because of heart failure include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath 
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Feet, ankle, leg, or belly swelling
• Bloated or hard stomach
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Wheezing
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Chronic cough
• Cough with mucus or blood
• Nausea
• Reduced appetite
• Upset stomach
• Rapid weight gain due to fluid buildup 
• Decreased alertness
• Difficulty concentrating

However, you may not have noticeable symptoms, or your symptoms might come and go. Heart failure can worsen over time, but treatment helps prevent this, resulting in stable chronic heart failure. 

How can cardiac rehabilitation help my stable chronic heart failure?

Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center personalizes cardiac rehabilitation and therapy sessions to match your medical history, disease severity, health history, and lifestyle. 

Dr. Sepúlveda Sunez provides convenient virtual assessments for initial consultations and follow-up appointments.

Your custom rehab plan for stable chronic heart failure may consist of:

• Pritikin intensive cardiac rehab (ICR)
• Vestibular screening for balance disorders and dizziness
• Heart-healthy nutrition education
• Stress management
• Stopping smoking, if applicable
• Long-term behavior change strategies
• Emotional support
• Weight management
• Routine patient monitoring
• Transportation assistance
• Doctor referral program

Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center specializes in ICR, which is structured cardiac rehabilitation that combines supervised exercise with lifestyle education. 

Dr. Sepúlveda Sunez can help you regain endurance, strength, and mobility to enhance your quality of life and reduce the chance of worsening concerns. 

Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center uses innovative CardiaLine, a cardiopulmonary monitoring system offering remote patient monitoring to track your progress. Dr. Sepúlveda Sunez follows up routinely to maximize your cardiac health and overall wellness.

If you have stable chronic heart failure, consider cardiac rehab and therapy at Longwood Cardiac Recovery & Rehabilitation Center. Call the office or request an in-person or virtual appointment online today.