After local artist Anders Mykkeltvedt experienced cardiac failure and underwent a heart valve replacement operation, he attended Canberra Hospital’s Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service.

Anders had such a positive experience during his recovery, that he wrote a song about it, which he played at his graduation from the program to staff and other participants.

Titled ‘I Survived a Heart Attack,’ Anders has dedicated his song to all Australians living with heart disease and to the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and hospital staff who’ve helped them recover.

Anders also hopes his song will help educate others about the importance of staying active for better heart health. As he sings in his song:

Exercise and movement, they all did say to me/was the greatest pill that I could take for my longevity.

Exercise and movement, no matter what you do/look after your heart and it’ll look after you.

About the Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service

The Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service is a 12-week program which focuses on education, wellness, lifestyle modification and exercise.

Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant, Megan Godfrey, says the program has three main goals for patients: to improve functional capacity, reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life.

“Heart function rehabilitation is available to eligible patients who have heart failure and the aim is to get them up and moving, particularly after a hospital admission. Part of the program is about helping patients to manage their condition long-term. The more you know about your condition, the better you can manage it.”

Megan Godfrey - Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant, Canberra Health Services

Anders’ experience

Anders describes his time with the Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service as “amazing”.

“It was a really well-equipped gymnasium and I felt more like I was part of the Institute of Sport than Canberra Hospital. There were eight people in the group, all with different ailments concerned with the heart, but we worked with physiotherapists and cardiac nurses, and I had a team of five or six people looking after every requirement.”

Anders Mykkeltvedt - patient, Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service

The value of exercise

Exercise Physiologist, Olivia Catherall, says that the Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service tailors the program for each patient, taking into account their individual goals.

“Exercise is for everybody and sometimes it can be quite daunting. So, a lot of it is about motivation and making sure that people are comfortable and safe, and showing people that they can do it. Functionality is quality of life.”

Olivia Catherall - Exercise Physiologist, Canberra Health Services

More information about the Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service is available at: Cardiac and Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service at Canberra Hospital - Canberra Health Services

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