Most heart patients have several developing fat-rich blockages scattered throughout the coronary arterial tree. These cholesterol rich plaques with thin covering cap can rapidly grow when risk factors are uncontrolled and can precipitate heart attack by plaque rupture and blood clot formation. Studies have shown that most heart attacks occur due to clot formation at younger plaques with less than 70% blockages and the risk of getting heart attack remains almost the same even after surgery or angioplasty if the risk factors are not controlled.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is the process of development and maintenance of optimum level of physical, social and psychological well–being after the onset of cardiovascular illness. It has now become anaccepted, integral component of patient care after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac surgical procedures.

         All the patients who have had heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty
 must enroll in cardiac rehabilitation and risk factors control programs in which a multispeciality team of cardiologist, dietitian, exercise physiologist, yoga- stress management expert and health educator provide a well structured and scientifically designed program for improving fitness and controllingthe risk factors of heart disease. Such medically supervised programs are very popular in western countries and are known as Therapeutic Lifestyle Change [TLC]