Preparing for heart surgery is just as important as setting yourself up for a successful recovery. Once you leave the hospital, it will be up to you to make sure your body is healthy. Heart surgery recovery does not need to be overcomplicated if you take the right steps. Here are three things to know.
Answered Questions about Recovering from Heart Surgery
1. When Can I Go Home?
Following surgery, it will take up to a week before you can leave the hospital. After four or five days of rest, you should be able to walk around and go up and down stairs. Patients do not leave the hospital with pain medication any stronger than Motrin or Tylenol so by the time you can go home, you will still be sore but not in an excruciating amount of pain.
2. When Can I Return to My Normal Activities?
After you return home from the hospital, you need to give your body a week to rest. Allow yourself to take naps and limit exercise to short walks around the block. Stretching your arms before and after walking is also a great way to gain flexibility and strength. Once you get into the third week of recovery, you can add in small muscles exercises.
3. What Should I Eat During Heart Surgery Recovery?
The most important thing you can do for your body is eating heart-healthy foods. Beneficial eating choices include:
- High fiber foods to normalize bowel movements
- Fruits and vegetables to increase vitamins and mineral intake
- Low-fat dairy products for protein and calcium
- High-calorie foods to give the body energy to heal itself
Heart surgery recovery includes some time in the hospital, but how you take care of yourself at home is critical. Introduce normal activities into your schedule slowly and nourish your body with the right food. To learn more about how Heart Hugger can help you recover, call us today!