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Are Heart Pillows Actually Useful After Surgery?

Posted by on February 18, 2020

If you’re looking at information related to heart surgery and recovery, chances are you’ve heard about heart pillows (also known as chest or cough pillows). These are commonly handed out to heart surgery patients, but it’s not often discussed whether these are actually helpful for recovery.

Heart pillows are meant to give patients something to hold to their chest when they need to cough or sneeze or to try and help alleviate some pain.

So the question is: are heart pillows truly a good addition to surgery recovery plans?

Raising Awareness During American Heart Health Month

Posted by on February 7, 2020

Heart health is one of the most important of all health subjects around the world. That's why we believe it is so important to raise awareness of heart health, and this is especially true during February, which is American Heart Health Month.

Why Heart Health matters

Heart disease is not just the most common disease but is also the #1 killer of women in the United States. Even young people are more vulnerable to the effects of heart disease now because of the high rates of obesity and high blood pressure, even in relatively younger adults. Smokers and individuals with high cholesterol are also at higher risk.

How to Cough and Sneeze After Heart Surgery

Posted by on January 29, 2020

You probably never thought you'd have to look up "how to cough and sneeze," but the truth is that these simple, everyday actions can get a little more complicated after heart surgery. Here's everything you need to know, plus a few extra tips to keep you healthy and comfortable.

Don't Avoid It

It can be tempting to avoid a cough or sneeze after heart surgery. The truth is that these actions aren't comfortable. At first, they can even be a little scary.

It's important to remember, though, that your body knows best. Coughing is vital to the healing process because it helps clear the lungs and prevent pneumonia.

Holding back a sneeze can be more uncomfortable (and damaging to your health) than simply sneezing. That's why you should keep right on doing these things; you need to find a way to make them easier, more comfortable, and a little less alarming.

What to Pack For Heart Surgery

Posted by on January 17, 2020

As a heart surgery patient, you have a lot to think about, so don't let a packing list be something that stresses you out. Instead, use this handy checklist to get ready well ahead of time and feel comfortable, calm, and prepared on the way to the hospital.

What You Need to Pack

Preparing for heart surgery is a journey with multiple steps. Naturally, packing for the hospital should be the quickest and easiest of those steps--but that's easier said than done.

To help you feel more confident about what to pack and what not to pack for your hospital stay, we've compiled this organized checklist. Feel free to change things up depending on what will make you most comfortable, and remember to ask your doctor for any special instructions.

How Long Is Open Heart Surgery Recovery?

Posted by on January 6, 2020

There are all kinds of things to learn, know, and understand before open-heart surgery. Perhaps one of the most important is how long your recovery might take, but the truth is that there's no single answer. Read on to find out how to calculate open-heart surgery recovery time.

Recovery Variables

When it comes to preparing for open-heart surgery, most patients have a lot of questions, especially about recovery. However, recovery time isn't static; it's different for every patient, and a lot of things need to be factored in before you can get an accurate estimate.

Here are a few things to consider when asking about your recovery time.

Common Complications After Heart Surgery

Posted by on December 10, 2019

Heart surgery is an intensive process. While you can trust your doctors to take good care of you, it's still important to know and understand the complications that might occur. Here is a quick list of complications that may occur after heart surgery, and what you can do to limit your risk.

Heart Surgery Recovery Complications

Here are some potential complications stemming from heart surgery:

Breathing After Surgery

Posted by on November 26, 2019

When you think about what makes you you, what is it that first comes to mind? Is it your physical features, like the specific shade of your eyes that you've never seen mimicked anywhere else? Is it a special skill? Is it some complex combination of the books you've read, the songs you've heard, the people you've met, and the things you've done? Whatever comes to mind when you think about yourself as an individual, it's likely not the simple yet incredibly important act of breathing.

Breathing is an important part of every life, yet it is often overlooked as an automatic and unnoticed detail--but after surgery, that can all change.

Why Wear a Postoperative Bra?

Posted by on November 14, 2019

No matter what kind of chest operation you're having, a postoperative bra can help make the healing process easier, faster, and more comfortable. Read on to find out precisely what this simple but powerful garment can do for you!

What is a Postoperative Bra?

A postoperative bra is a unique combination of "garment" and "device." Just like the name suggests, it's something you wear after a chest operation. However, thanks to specialized shaping, unique support mechanisms, and ample locations for surgical drain tubes, these postoperative bras are more than just a tool. They're quickly becoming an indispensable part of the healing process, and a favorite among both doctors and patients.

Preparing for Heart Surgery: A Schedule

Posted by on October 22, 2019

Getting ready for heart surgery can be nerve-wracking--but that's completely normal. As a patient, the best thing you can do is prep, prep, prep so that you know exactly what's going to happen, what you can expect, and what's going to be expected of you. Here are a few things to keep in mind during the whole process.

The First Step: Narrow Your Focus

Although it's easy to feel like you need to worry about every little detail when it comes to heart surgery preparation, the truth is that your doctor has done this plenty of times before and is perfectly comfortable being responsible for the important stuff. All you need to do is ask the right questions and make sure you've completed a few simple tasks.

To help narrow your focus, here is a "schedule" of things you need to do before heart surgery:

Sternal Precautions: Stay Safe After Heart Surgery

Posted by on October 8, 2019

Sternal precautions are a considerable part of the recovery and healing process after heart surgery. However, many patients have a lot of questions about sternal precautions--and that's great. To help patients take an active role in their healing and understand what they need to do, we're explaining exactly what sternal precautions are, why they're essential, and how you can stick with them.

Safety First

There are a lot of options for staying safe and comfortable after heart surgery, from plenty of rest to sternal support devices. However, without sternal precautions, none of those other options would be nearly as effective. Here's everything you need to know about sternal precautions--and how to make it a habit to follow them.