Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a major surgery which helps to correct life-threatening and severe blockages in the heart arteries but that does not indicate improvement in cardiovascular health. Blockages in arteries are caused by an underlying disease process that involves buildup of a fatty, waxy substance called plaque on the artery walls that restricts blood flow. The same disease process can cause a stroke by blocking the carotid arteries leading to the brain, can cause peripheral artery disease by blocking blood flow to the legs and can cause kidney artery disease by blocking the flow of blood to the kidneys. The recovery after the surgery requires time which involves managing the risk factors that contribute towards cardiovascular disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.). Prior to discussing about the steps to take to improve heart health, read to know more about CPR courses.
Every individual should be well-trained in the life-saving CPR techniques. CPR is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths and proper application can revive the life of a victim involved in a cardiac emergency. To sign up for a CPR class Tampa, sign up in a certified training center such as the AHA certified CPR Tampa in Florida. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted to the students.
Recovering after surgery:
Quit Smoking- Smoking contributes directly to coronary artery disease by damaging the artery walls. Quitting smoking is integral to slowing the progression of your heart disease as heart bypass surgery only bypasses serious blockages, does not cure your heart disease.
Healing Post Surgery- After surgery when you first get home, it is important that you strictly follow your surgeon’s instructions and accordingly focus on making steady improvement each day while slowly increasing activities.
Healthy Diet- An unhealthy diet equally contributes to cardiovascular disease. Like we’ve already mentioned that the surgery does not cure the heart disease process, which is progressive, so it is important to have a heart-healthy diet that is low in cholesterol and saturated and trans-fats that can slow or stop the build-up of plaque on artery walls throughout the body. You can consult with a nutritionist or your physician in this regard.
Medications- Doctors prescribe medications after the surgery that are aimed at promoting healthy and comfortable healing from the surgery and significantly reducing the risk factors for heart attacks. Some of the medications that are prescribed are antiplatelets and aspirin to prevent blood clots, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors to help lower blood pressure, nitrates to control chest pain and others to reduce cholesterol.
Exercise or Physical Activity- Doctors also provide exercise guidelines after the surgery and the most appropriate way to restart physical activity is by participating in a cardiac rehab program at your hospital under strict observation by health professionals. One should not lift anything that is over 10 pounds for the first six weeks after surgery with walking being an excellent choice for rebuilding activity level.
Cardiac Rehabilitation- A cardiac rehab program offers medical support and assistance in adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle which provides patients with opportunities to exercise that is monitored by a medical professional, nutrition counseling, and psychological counseling, among other offerings.
Managing Stress and Diabetes- Chronic stress is a major risk factor for heart disease, again a diagnosis of heart disease leads to stress which creates a vicious cycle. It is important to effectively manage stress. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is often recommended over other treatment options for diabetes patients with blockages in multiple arteries. Diabetes is a risk factor of heart disease. You need to carefully manage the disease as per the instructions of doctors.
Handling Depression- Many heart disease patients experience clinical depression which is another risk factor and increases the likelihood of heart attack or sudden death from heart problems. Consult with a psychologist in order to combat depression.
It is advisable that you get in touch with support groups or volunteer groups through your local hospital. It can prove to be beneficial in talking to people who understand exactly what you are experiencing physically and emotionally.
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