Clinical Services: Adult through Geriatric

• Cardiac Rehabilitation • Family Medicine • HIV & AIDS • Intensive Care Units • Maternity • Music & Health Clinic • Oncology • Pain Medicine & Palliative Care • Pulmonary Rehabilitation • Respiratory Step-Down Unit • Sickle Cell Anemia • Spinal Cord Conditions • Additional Inpatient Services

Cardiac Rehabilitation

About Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions such as heart attacks, heart failure, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and arterial clogging. It is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States for both men and women (Center for Disease Control, 2005) and it may cause considerable physical impairment and psychological distress, which can impact quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation is an outpatient service aimed at secondary prevention and improving both the quality and quantity of life through supervised exercise, dietary advice, education and psychological support.

Music for Cardiac Health
Through a collaborative effort with the Center for Cardiac and Pulmonary Health at Beth Israel Medical Center, music therapy is offered as a complementary approach to achieving treatment goals and wellness in our Music for CAIR (Cardiac Advances in Rehabilitation) program. Music therapy is used to address the physical symptoms of cardiovascular disease, including techniques to regulate heart rate and blood pressure, as well as providing psychosocial support for people coping with chronic illness to enhance quality of life. The program offers:

• Music-assisted relaxation and guided imagery to influence heart rhythms, optimize breathing and support stress management
• Group music-making using simple percussion instruments for tension release and creative expression
• The Sing A-Lung chorus draws on the therapeutic benefits of singing and song-writing from a variety of musical genres to enhance heart, voice and spirit

Enroll in Our Study
Adults who have a cardiac history and meet eligibility requirements for cardiac rehabilitation have the opportunity to enroll in our free-of-charge music therapy research study on the use of music therapy in cardiac rehabilitation. The study involves an interdisciplinary team of physicians, physical therapists and music therapists in a collaborative effort with Beth Israel Medical Center's Center for Cardiac & Pulmonary Health to investigate traditional medicine with complementary mind-body approaches. For more information, call (212) 420-2709 or email razoulay@chpnet.org

Related Research and Articles
For articles from peer-reviewed journals, research studies and authoritative literature, please see the bibliographies in the Suggested Reading section. Additional information is available through Websites listed on the Related Links page.

For Questions and Further Information
For questions and further information about music therapy or referrals for yourself, your loved ones or your patients, please call (212) 420-2704 or email info@musicandmedicine.org.