Cardiac Rehabilitation in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a planned programme that guides you from the first days after a heart event back to an active, confident life. It brings together three things: exercise that builds up gradually and safely, clear information about your heart and your medicines, and support for the emotional side of recovery. The programme also targets the risk factors that led to the heart problem, so it protects the heart for the long term as well as speeding recovery.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, cardiac rehabilitation is planned by the cardiologist, who sets the exercise level from your tests and reviews your progress. Supervised exercise sessions are arranged as part of your care pathway, and the plan continues at home.
Who needs it
Cardiac rehabilitation helps adults who have recently:
- Had a heart attack or been treated for angina
- Had a stent placed or heart bypass or valve surgery, including at another hospital
- Been diagnosed with heart failure, described on the heart failure management page
- Been treated for a heart rhythm problem such as atrial fibrillation and feel unsure about exercise
It suits people of every age and fitness level, including those who are new to regular exercise. Many patients feel nervous about exertion after a heart event; a programme built around their own test results is often what restores the confidence to move again. Family members are welcome at the education sessions, because recovery happens at home as much as in the clinic.
What happens
Your first appointment with the cardiologist reviews what happened to your heart, your treatment so far, your medicines and your other health conditions. An echocardiogram shows how well the heart muscle is pumping, and an ECG stress test may be used to measure how much exercise your heart handles safely. These results set your starting exercise level and target heart rate.
The programme then moves through phases:
- Early recovery: gentle walking and daily activity at home, building up a little each day, with clear guidance on what to avoid for now.
- Supervised exercise: regular sessions of walking, cycling or light strength work, with heart rate and symptoms checked, arranged as part of your care pathway.
- Long-term maintenance: an exercise routine you keep for life, reviewed at follow-up appointments.
Alongside exercise, education covers your medicines and why each one matters, heart-healthy eating with less salt and fat, stopping smoking, managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and handling stress. Return to work, driving, travel and sex are discussed with your cardiologist, who gives you advice for your case.
Preparing for it
Bring your discharge letter, the names of any procedures you had, your medicine list and any test results from other hospitals. Wear comfortable clothes and supportive trainers to the first session, and bring your home blood pressure readings if you keep them.
Think about what you want to return to, such as a walk to the mosque, playing with grandchildren, work or a sport, because goals shape the programme. If you smoke, including shisha or vaping, raise it early: stopping is one of the most powerful steps after a heart event, and support is part of the plan. If you are planning to fast in Ramadan, discuss it with your cardiologist well beforehand, so medicine timing and exercise can be adjusted.
Afterwards
As the programme progresses, most people find they walk further, breathe more easily and feel more confident in daily life. The aim is a routine you keep, such as brisk walking most days, and in the UAE summer that usually means exercising indoors: mall walking, a gym, a pool, or early-morning walks before the heat. Feeling low, anxious or irritable after a heart attack is common, and talking about it with your cardiologist or family is an important part of recovery.
Contact the hospital if you notice new breathlessness on exertion, swelling in the ankles, dizziness during exercise, or palpitations that keep returning. Call emergency services straight away if you have chest pain at rest, chest pain that does not settle within a few minutes of stopping, severe breathlessness, or if you faint.
Cost and insurance
Cardiology consultations, tests such as echocardiography and stress testing, and follow-up are covered by most UAE health insurance plans. Supervised exercise sessions may be covered separately, often with a limit on the number of sessions, and some policies exclude them, so check before the programme begins. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to exercise after a heart attack?
Exercise after a heart attack is safe and beneficial for most people when it starts gently and builds up gradually, following a plan based on your tests. Your cardiologist sets the level and tells you which symptoms mean you should stop.
What are the risks of cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation carries a small risk of chest pain, a heart rhythm problem or a fall during exercise, which is why the exercise level is set from your test results and increased in steps. Stop exercising and seek advice if you feel chest pain, severe breathlessness, dizziness or an irregular heartbeat.
When should cardiac rehabilitation start?
Cardiac rehabilitation usually starts soon after a heart attack, heart procedure or heart failure diagnosis, once your cardiologist confirms you are stable. Gentle walking often begins at home first, with supervised exercise following in the weeks after.
Can I do cardiac rehabilitation if I had my treatment at another hospital?
Yes. Cardiac rehabilitation can follow treatment at any hospital. Bring your discharge letter and test results so your cardiologist can plan the programme around what was done.
How do I exercise safely in the UAE heat?
In the UAE summer, exercise indoors or in the early morning, for example walking in a mall, using a gym or swimming, and drink water regularly. Heat makes the heart work harder, so an indoor routine is usually the safest way to keep exercise regular.
Is it normal to feel low or anxious after a heart attack?
Feeling low, anxious or irritable after a heart attack is common and usually improves with time and support. Tell your cardiologist if these feelings persist or affect sleep, work or relationships, because help is available.
Is cardiac rehabilitation covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover the cardiology consultations and tests involved in cardiac rehabilitation, while supervised exercise sessions may be limited or excluded. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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