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In This Issue:
Jack Reardon, a graduate of Foxborough's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, walks his daughter Kristina down the aisle at her wedding.
"I guess you could say I'm competitive," said Jack Reardon, associate director of Infrastructure Services at Worcester State University.
At 55 years old, Reardon competes in-and often wins-matches against men half his age every Tuesday in a YMCA racquetball league. On his lunch breaks at work, he hits the tennis court for a quick game. When the weather breaks in the spring, he looks forward to rounds of golf. For more than 10 years, he has been playing the same partner in racquetball.
But just one year ago, at one of his weekly racquetball games, Reardon collapsed as a result of a cardiac arrest. His racquetball partner began chest compressions and called for an automated external defibrillator to help save his life. After Reardon stabilized, he underwent a cardiac catheterization that detected a 90 percent blockage in one of his coronary arteries, which was successfully treated with a stent.
Reardon had virtually no health issues prior to the heart attack, but now this dive-for-the-ball man needed support. He could no longer drive or work. His brothers, friends and neighbors were showing up at his home to help carry heavy loads and give him rides. Reardon's cardiologist recommended he complete a cardiac rehabilitation program in order to get back on his feet. Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of the overall treatment plan for patients who have experienced chest pain, heart attacks, coronary artery procedures, coronary artery by-pass or valve replacement surgery or heart transplants.
"When I first heard about cardiac rehab, I thought it would be just riding a bike or running on a treadmill," said Reardon. "But it is much more than that." Cardiac rehabilitation is a structured program that includes exercise but also focuses on decreasing each patient's individual risk factors for heart disease-such as high cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, obesity and stress-with the primary goal of enabling participants to achieve their optimal physical, psychological and social health. Studies have shown that cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduces the risk of death and increases the quality of life of participants.
Reardon attended BWH's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Foxborough, at the Brigham and Women's/Mass General Health Care Center. As part of the program, patients meet with nurses, nutritionists and physical therapists twice weekly for 12 weeks. "Patients gain the knowledge to undertake healthy lifestyle changes, as well as receive coaching and counseling in order to adopt and sustain the changes in the long run," said Gisele Bousquet, RN, MS, Cardiac Rehabilitation program manager.
For Reardon, the program quickly transformed from an obligation to his favorite time of the week. By mid-February, Reardon went back to work, and by April, he had a breakthrough: he was cleared to play golf again. He has since lost weight, and started reading food labels and eating less red meat.
A certificate of completion of the program hangs on his wall.
"I still dive for the ball and come back to work with band aids," he said with a smile. "I am now allowed to do all forms of exercise, except for one: shoveling snow."
This year, the Foxborough Cardiac Rehabilitation Program celebrated its third anniversary. For more information, call 508-718-4661 or 1-866-378-9164.