It is critical to prepare for recovery after heart surgery and determine how you will aid your body. Here are two simples ways you can improve recovery after heart surgery.
1. Make Beneficial Eating Choices
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High-Fiber Foods: A high-fiber diet will normalize bowel movements while lowering cholesterol levels. You can find natural fiber in whole grains, oatmeal, and fruits and vegetables that are not canned.
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Fruits and Vegetables: Loading your plate with fruits and vegetables increases your intakes of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Try leafy greens like kale or spinach and citrus fruits high in vitamin C.
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Low-Fat Dairy Products: Protein and calcium are essential for your recovery period and are in low-fat dairy products. In small amounts, add yogurt, milk, or cottage cheese to your diet. Lean Protein: Protein will aid in the recovery of your skin after surgery. Find lean protein in turkey, fish, or tofu.
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High-Calorie Foods: It may seem counter-intuitive to add calories to your diet after heart surgery, but your body needs increased energy to heal itself. Change the way you think about high-calorie foods by making a smoothie with berries, spinach, and protein powder. It’s a simple snack that will be beneficial after heart surgery.
2. Gradually Return to Normal Activities
After heart surgery, you want to avoid an opening of the incision, invention, and heightened pain. To prevent these symptoms, you should take time to rest and let your body recover. Driving is a daily activity that will have to wait for 4-6 weeks after heart surgery. After this initial rest period, you can begin to increase small exercise movements in your day, but high-impact actives need to wait until full recovery.
You can prepare your home before you leave for heart surgery. Set up your resting space so that any needed items are in reaching distance, so movement is limited. You should also prepare your kitchen so that healthy eating choices are a convenient choice.
To learn more about heart surgery recovery, contact us today!