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We have always regarded the heart as a center of life. When we were little, the heart seemed to be a soft-edged, lovable little shape that rested somewhere within us. As we grew older, we learned that the heart was in charge of nearly every movement of our body, responsible for our survival. And, as our lives went on, we often revisited that idea that the heart was the center for emotion--and, whether it was heartbreak or joy, the heart seemed responsible. We've always thought of the heart as our center, one way or another. But now, after heart surgery, that idea becomes more prominent than ever--because, it seems, a cardiac surgery patient can't make a move or take a breath without thinking about how it will affect their heart.

For most of our lives, physical activity has been like a cloudy sky. For some of us, the clouds are fresh and bright, and for others, the clouds are gray and stormy. Regardless of whether we live for the treadmill or constantly invent excuses to avoid the gym, exercise is a thought that always hangs over us, and its importance throughout our lives is undeniable. However, there are some points in life when physical activity becomes less a cloudy sky, to be looked up at and contemplated on, and more a hurdle that must be crossed as part of rehabilitation. After heart surgery, this is especially true.

You want to be prepared for the six to eight-week process after heart surgery. As the patient, if you are properly prepared you can help to speed up your cardiac surgery rehabilitation process. Below are five tips to help in your preparations.

1. Coordinate Your Helpers

If you have just returned home from the hospital after having CABG surgery, you may need help. You may not be able to perform simple day-to-day activities, such as driving, shopping, or cleaning. Moreover, you may need emotional support as well.

Compile a list of individuals who are willing to help you and try to secure two primary individuals to take care of most of your needs, as well as monitor the number of visitors who come to see you.

Here are the things you can ask your helpers or caregivers to help you with: 

Are you experiencing poststernotomy pain? Study results show that pain after sternotomy is more than just nerve damage.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can include sternal pain, involving the muscles, skeletal components of the head and neck, the trunk and other upper extremities. It doesn't make sense that simply cutting a nerve in the area of the sternum is causing all of these symptoms.

Almost a third of patients deal with persistent pain after sternotomy. This pain is often in areas unrelated to the surgical incision in the chest area (like the neck, shoulders, arms and back).

Dr. Van Leersum decided to conduct physical examinations of patients who had undergone procedures related to open heart surgery. She examined 277 patients, investigating the muscles in every inch of the body. In her study, she uncovered that:

With heart surgery each patient responds differently. However, there are side effects that are typical after this surgery, while there are side effects that aren’t so typical. It is extremely important that patients are aware of the differences between certain side effects that are expected, and ones that need immediate attention.

Normal side effects:

• Mood swings
• Loss of appetite
• Sleepless nights
• Muscle pain or tightness

Side effects that need immediate attention:

Each year millions of people around the world undergo some sort of heart surgery. The recovery period for these procedures is based on a number of things. They type of surgery itself will play a role in recovery. Along with this is the need to pay strict attention to doctor’s instructions. Your incision is a focal point in this process. Taking care of the incision point is very important. These are some of the steps for incision care:

• Clean and Dry Wound
• Use Only Soap and Water
• Maintain a Healthy Diet
• Protect Incision Site

Heart Hugger is a fine example of a support product for the sternum. This is a useful product that can help patients after their heart surgeries. It is strategic when it comes to protecting the incision site. Each of the steps for securing this site is a part of the recovery process. Let’s take a look at some other things to consider in this area.

Watch for Infection

Recovery for a patient that just went through heart surgery becomes very important, as it is the way to get back to normal following the procedure. Having heart surgery is a necessity that one must face in order to get healthy, and the postoperative recovery time is an important thing to keep in mind following a major surgery. Since it is unavoidable, it is in the patient’s best interest to make the recovery period as smooth as possible. This is done by sticking to the doctor’s orders as well as avoiding any unnecessary complications.

There are many different options to choose from when thinking about postoperative recovery and sternal support. This is especially true when a complex procedure like open heart surgery is involved. You will want to know that you’re being placed in the best care possible and know that your recovery is on track to be as smooth as possible. After all, you’re trying to get back to normal the quickest way you can. There are a few different ways to go about postoperative chest support when recovering from heart surgery, the easiest and most beneficial way is to employ the help of the Heart Hugger.

Are you experiencing poststernotomy pain? Study results show that pain after sternotomy is more than just nerve damage.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can include sternal pain involving the muscles, skeletal components of the head and neck, the trunk, and other upper extremities. It doesn't make sense that simply cutting a nerve in the area of the sternum is causing all of these symptoms.

Almost a third of patients deal with persistent pain after sternotomy. This pain is often in areas unrelated to the surgical incision in the chest area (like the neck, shoulders, arms, and back).

Dr. Van Leersum decided to conduct physical examinations of patients who had undergone procedures related to open heart surgery. She examined 277 patients, investigating the muscles in every inch of the body. In her study, she uncovered that:

Recovery for a patient that just went through heart surgery becomes very important, as it is the way to get back to normal following the procedure. Having heart surgery is a necessity that one must face in order to get healthy, and the postoperative recovery time is an important thing to keep in mind following a major surgery. Since it is unavoidable, it is in the patient’s best interest to make the recovery period as smooth as possible. This is done by sticking to the doctor’s orders as well as avoiding any unnecessary complications.