Woman recovers heart health through rehabilitation
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Shirin Rebecca Harold, a 30-year-old woman from Lower Austria, regained her health and mobility after a heart attack and subsequent surgeries through cardiac rehabilitation.
Following a collapse after the birth of her second son, Harold underwent emergency treatment including surgery for blocked arteries and time on a heart-lung machine. She began rehabilitation in 2023 at the Herz-Kreislauf-Zentrum Groß Gerungs, initially using a walking frame. Harold steadily improved her physical condition with targeted exercise therapy, eventually discarding the walking frame.
Her most recent rehabilitation in 2026 demonstrates increased physical performance, with a higher wattage achieved during stress electrocardiograms (ECGs) compared to previous years. These ECGs help determine her individual fitness level and training pulse, guiding her exercise regimen. Beyond physical exercise, Harold also benefitted from psychological counseling, which helped her manage anxieties and respect her limitations. She now prioritizes seasonal, regional, and low-salt cooking, incorporating lessons from her rehabilitation program.
Harold hopes to return to her previous career as a cook and encourages others with heart weakness to persevere, stating, “No matter how bad it is at the beginning. It will get better.” Her experiences are also detailed in her podcast, “Das Echo des Lebens, zwischen Stillstand und zweiter Chance.”
