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Jargon.

It can be a great shorthand way to communicate with your colleagues or it can create an opportunity for stress and anxiety if used with a "civilian" or a patient who isn't familiar with the terminology or its intent. Those who come to cardiopulmonary rehab for help and support following major or life-threatening cardiac events are especially vulnerable to misunderstandings—think about this true story the next time you use medical jargon within earshot of a patient.

(The names in this story have been omitted to protect the oblivious.)

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Tags: Caretakers, Cardiac Rehab, Stress, pulmonary rehab, improved health outcomes, exercise physiologists, Cardiac Rehab program director, patient anxiety, jargon, medical jargon, medical humor

Cardiopulmonary Rehab professionals are devoted to the well-being of others. Regardless of the path you took to become a part of this caring profession, your work either touches upon or is completely tied to helping patients gain strength and confidence after some of the most frightening, destabilizing days they may have ever known. Yours is not a profession that intrinsically emphasizes self. You may even feel guilty when you consider doing something totally for yourself—it can feel selfish and even unkind.

Get over it.

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Tags: Caretakers, Self-care, Cardiac Rehab, Stress, Intensive Cardiac Rehab, pulmonary rehab, improved health outcomes, exercise physiologists, Cardiac Rehab program director