At 82, Jennifer Fajman discovered it’s never too late to start exercising. After being diagnosed with heart disease and undergoing a heart valve replacement, she turned to the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center for supervised recovery and guided exercise following her procedure.
“The program helped restore my energy, endurance, and enthusiasm for exercise following my valve replacement,” Jennifer says. “Over the years, I had become increasingly sedentary. While I was surprised to learn I had heart disease, it was the impetus I needed to make some positive changes. The program didn’t just help me recover; it gave me the tools to continue that healing on my own.”
From diagnosis to minimally invasive treatment
“Jennifer was referred to me several years ago by her primary care physician because of a heart murmur,” explains Stuart Gould, MD, her cardiologist at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. “The ultrasound revealed aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve narrows and stiffens, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. The condition worsened over time, and that is why I referred her to my colleagues at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Jennifer was a good candidate for a minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR.”
Instead of opening Jennifer’s chest, the medical team replaced the valve by inserting a catheter through a small incision in her groin and threading the new valve up into her heart.
“I felt great after the procedure although I did notice I was more tired than usual,” says Jennifer. Soon after, she began cardiac rehabilitation at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, where a structured program of exercise and nutrition helped rebuild her strength.
Cardiac rehabilitation enables better outcomes
“Those who attend cardiac rehab after any cardiac procedure tend to have better outcomes,” notes Dr. Gould. “People become inspired when they are well supported and receive individualized attention. They see the results and that motivates them to continue with exercise long after they leave the program.”
Jennifer attended cardiac rehabilitation three times a week for a total of 36 sessions. “The whole experience was wonderful,” she says. “There are many people participating at the same time and the staff customizes the exercises for each person. The participants provide support to one another, which is very important to your emotional wellbeing as you recuperate.”
Colleen Anastasi, cardiac rehabilitation coordinator at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, noted Jennifer’s progress throughout the program. “From her intake assessment to program completion, the cardiac rehab team saw a clear increase in Jennifer’s functional capacity—she was able to walk farther, with fewer symptoms, and tolerate higher levels of activity,” Colleen says. “That’s exactly the goal of cardiac rehabilitation: helping patients feel stronger and more confident in their daily lives.”
“Now I am totally committed to regular exercise,” continues Jennifer. “I walk outdoors more frequently and I joined a gym. Also, my blood pressure has improved. I am definitely headed in the right direction.”
Call 301-774-8778 or visit MedStarHealth.org/CardiacRehab to learn more.
Visit MedStarHealth.org/Gould to view Dr. Gould’s full profile.