Anxiety & Heart Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

A VBOHC | Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare Program

Program Overview

Chronic anxiety activates the body's stress response, raising heart rate, blood pressure, inflammation, and metabolic strain. Over time, this contributes to:

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)

  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • Obesity & metabolic syndrome

This IOP integrates behavioral health, cardiovascular medicine, metabolic care, and environment-first regulation to improve whole-system health.

Who This Program Is For

Adults experiencing:

  • High blood pressure

  • Elevated cholesterol

  • Pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes

  • Chronic stress or anxiety

  • Sleep disruption

  • Obesity or metabolic syndrome

  • Family history of cardiovascular disease

Clinical Model: How It Works

1. Environment-First Regulation (VBOHC Core)

Patients engage in structured outdoor sessions that lower sympathetic overactivation, improve HRV, and stabilize blood pressure.

2. Behavioral Health Integration

  • Anxiety reduction protocols

  • Somatic regulation

  • Cognitive + experiential approaches

  • Trauma-informed care

3. Medical Oversight & Monitoring

  • Blood pressure tracking

  • Lipid panels

  • Glucose and A1c monitoring

  • Weight and metabolic markers

4. Cardiometabolic Lifestyle Support

  • Nutrition

  • Sleep interventions

  • Movement in green/blue spaces

5. Data-Driven Outcomes (CMS Quality Aligned)

Every patient receives a personalized dashboard with validated metrics mapped to CMS value-based care incentives.

12-Week Curriculum (Example Weekly Rhythm)

Daily Structure (IOP Schedule)

  • Morning Regulation: guided outdoor nervous-system practices

  • Group Behavioral Health: anxiety, stress, and mind-body integration

  • Cardiometabolic Education: BP, cholesterol, glucose, inflammation

  • Movement Therapy: walking, hiking, mobility work

  • Biometric Tracking: HRV, BP logs, sleep patterns

  • Nature-Based Recovery Session

Weekly Themes

  1. Understanding the Stress–Heart Connection

  2. Stabilizing Blood Pressure Through Regulation

  3. Metabolic Health + Anxiety Pathways

  4. Inflammation, Sleep, and Recovery Cycles

  5. Nutrition for Cardiometabolic Balance

  6. Trauma-Informed Heart Health

  7. Building Safe Internal + External Environments

  8. Outdoor Movement for Cardiovascular Function

  9. Cognitive + Somatic Behavioral Health Skills

  10. Strengthening Autonomic Flexibility

  11. Reducing Environmental Load + Triggers

  12. Transition Planning + Long-Term Maintenance

Program Outcomes

Patients typically see improvements in:

  • Reduced anxiety and panic symptoms

  • Lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure

  • Improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels

  • Weight reduction + improved glucose control

  • Better sleep and heart-rate variability

  • Increased energy, confidence, and resilience

  • Reduced reliance on emergency or urgent care

Value-Based Care Alignment

This IOP is structured for:

  • 1115 demonstration alignment

  • CMMI model-test readiness

  • Risk-stratified care pathways

  • Cardiovascular + behavioral health quality measures

  • Total cost of care reduction

Join Anxiety & Heart Health IOP