By Olha Logvinov, BSN, CEP

Although my “day job” is as a cardiac rehab nurse with a clinical exercise physiologist background, I also enjoy painting. I introduced my hobby to my workplace, transforming our blackboard — originally intended for the program’s news and upcoming workshops — into a seasonal chalk mural. I was surprised to see how it was noticed and admired by many patients, some of whom even mentioned the wall art in our program evaluation. Comments included: “Your mural on the wall is so relaxing” or “I can just sit and stare at your chalkboard art.”

Our patients do appreciate seeing something different than just the usual educational posters, boards, or flyers; and cardiopulmonary rehab is the perfect place for complementary therapies to help maximize patients’ experience and recovery. These therapies, including simple active listening, music, aromatherapy, reiki, wall art painting, and much more, can take clients beyond standard monitoring and education. The psychosocial aspect plays just as important a role as the other patient services we provide.

Working in cardiac rehab for over 12 years, I recognize the many different ways that individuals cope with post-cardiovascular events and procedures. There are a wide range of emotions, starting with denial and ending with outbursts of severe anger, anxiety, and depression. As clinicians, we understand the effects of stress and negative coping mechanisms on cardiovascular health and recovery. According to the World Health Organization, stress is the most pronounced health risk of the modern age.¹ Inability to cope with stress is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease as well as depression and anxiety disorders. It can also weaken the immune system and may result in organ damage.

Based on a systemic review of evidence-based studies, there is a positive effect of creative arts interventions on stress management and prevention. Art painting is a creative and nonverbal approach. It promotes a welcoming environment, which activates positive feelings such as empathy, hope, self-efficacy, and empowerment. Evidence shows that engaging in different forms of art cultivates healing, improved mental health, and well-being. There are two forms of art engagement: active participation and passive reception. Therefore, to get a health benefit from art, one does not necessarily have to actively create it. Passive reception involves experiencing art created by others. Art therapy has been shown to improve cortisol levels in individuals of various demographic categories. It also has clinical effects on mental disorders including anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s, and autism.²

In our cardiac rehab clinic, we like to use our chalk wall mural for patients with white-coat syndrome or stress-related, elevated pre-exercise blood pressure. We have them sit in front of the painting and take a few slow breaths while looking at it. Often, we see improvement in patients’ blood pressure values after completing this exercise.  

As clinicians, we are each gifted with different talents and skills that can make a long-lasting impact on our patients moving forward. We can express creativity with decoration, education, music, art, or a sense of humor. Cardiac rehab is a perfect place to practice and improve our skills to make a difference in patients’ lives. Thinking outside the box takes us further with our professional performance in terms of patients’ care. Our creativity, passions, and personal approach matter!

These are a couple of other examples of my artwork that I've shared with my cardiac rehab patients:

¹Martin L, Oepen R, Bauer K, Nottensteiner A, Mergheim K, Gruber H, Koch SC. Creative arts interventions for stress management and prevention—a systematic review. Behav Sci (Basel). 2018 Feb 22;8(2):28. doi: 10.3390/bs8020028. PMID: 29470435; PMCID: PMC5836011.

²Barnett KS, Vasiu F. How the arts heal: a review of the neural mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of creative arts on mental and physical health. Front Behav Neurosci. 2024 Oct 2;18:1422361. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1422361. PMID: 39416439; PMCID: PMC11480958.

Olha Logvinov, BSN, CEP, has been working in cardiac rehab for over 12 years. Her current workplace is the outpatient cardiac rehab at Bryn Mawr Hospital - Main Line Health in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.