Young mother experiences AFib during pregnancy
January 28, 2026
At just 26 years old, a Nashville mother receives specialty heart care for women at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Women’s Center during her second pregnancy.
Cardiac rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation care teams at Ascension Saint Thomas provide personalized care for your heart after surgery or a heart attack.
Cardiac rehabilitation in Middle Tennessee
Cardiac rehabilitation care teams at Ascension Saint Thomas provide personalized care for your heart after surgery or a heart attack.
Why choose us
When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas for personalized outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, you are receiving care from a team that listens to understand you and your health concerns. Then, we work with you and your doctor to create a cardiac rehabilitation plan that’s right for you. Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West and Rutherford are recognized by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) certified program.
Understand cardiac rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that may be part of your cardiac treatment recovery plan. Whether you have a heart condition or are recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, your cardiac rehab may be recommended to support your recovery. During your cardiac rehabilitation sessions, specialists monitor your heart and help you develop confidence as your heart gets stronger. Ask your doctor if you can be connected to cardiac rehabilitation care.
Reasons for cardiac rehabilitation care
Common reasons your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation:
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- Coronary artery stents
- Heart attack
- Heart or heart-lung transplant
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Treatment for angina (chest pain)
A doctor's referral is required to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program.
How we manage your cardiac therapy
Your cardiac rehab care team works with you to strengthen your heart and lungs and help manage your symptoms.
Cardiac rehab classes are two to three days a week and consist of a personalized exercise plan. We provide educational material to help you better understand your diagnosis and support your condition. During cardiac rehabilitation, we monitor your heart, nutrition and lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol, blood pressure and improve your overall health. We also help you cope with stress by providing support to you and your family.
Advanced testing for heart conditions
Our cardiac rehabilitation teams deliver care for the whole person to help improve your emotional and physical health. Your care team provides heart assessments and other tests to help monitor your progress, including:
Before you start exercising at cardiac rehabilitation, you will put on a 3 lead telemetry monitor that will track your heart rate and rhythm for the entire duration of the exercise class. A member of our care team will monitor your heart rhythms, and if there are any abnormalities your cardiologist will be notified immediately so that you can receive the care that’s right for you. The cardiac rehab team will also provide you with reports that compare your rhythms and heart rates through each exercise session.
This is also called a treadmill or exercise ECG. This test is done to monitor the heart while you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. Your doctor also monitors your breathing and blood pressure. A stress test may be used to detect coronary artery disease, or to determine safe levels of exercise after a heart attack or heart surgery. This test can also be done using special medicines that stress the heart in a similar manner as exercise does. Sometimes a stress test will collect ECG information along with heart ultrasound pictures. This is called an exercise or stress echocardiogram (echo). It's more sensitive and specific than ECG stress testing alone.
Program features and benefits
Cardiac rehabilitation can help speed up your recovery and keep your heart healthy. Our program focuses on:
- Controlling weight and improving cholesterol levels
- Creating healthy lifestyle habits and managing stress
- Increasing self-confidence
- Reducing your symptoms and helping to prevent another cardiac event
- Returning to work and activities of daily living
- Strengthening and conditioning your heart and lungs
- Understanding your medications and how to manage your heart condition
Exercise options after completing the program
Your care doesn’t end after completing your cardiac rehabilitation. At our wellness centers in Murfreesboro and Nashville and our hospital in McMinnville, we provide comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation with a range of exercise and fitness options.
Patient education
Get detailed information on what to expect before and after your procedure. Learn what to expect with recovery from your care team.
How to get care
A doctor's referral is required to participate in the program. Medicare Part B and other private health insurance plans provide a covered benefit for participating in general or intensive cardiac rehabilitation. Insurance plans typically cover up to 36 monitored exercise sessions after a qualifying diagnosis.
Refer your patient to Ascension Saint Thomas
Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our rehabilitation care teams start by listening to fully understand your patient’s needs and develop an individualized care plan.
Call to make a referral at 615-284-2025.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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