Keeping Your Heart Healthy – Life After Bypass Surgery

Taking care of your heart after bypass surgery is vital to reduce the risk of heart disease in the future. If you have had a heart bypass, you need to make certain lifestyle changes along with consuming the medicines given to you by your cardiologist. This will help to keep your new graft blood vessels free of blockages. It will also reduce the possibility of another heart bypass surgery.

Here, we have discussed some of the ways by which you can keep your heart healthy after bypass surgery.

1. Eat Healthy Foods

To keep your heart healthy, you need to make certain changes to your diet. You should eat healthy and avoid foods that are rich in cholesterol and fat. If you consume a large number of fatty foods then the fat will get deposited in your arteries leading to the formation of plaques that will eventually clog your arteries- the main reason behind your bypass surgery.
Some of the foods that you should avoid after bypass surgery include:

• Whole milk
• Cheese
• Sausages
• Meat pies
• Egg yolks
• Baked desserts
• Biscuits and cakes
• Cream

Instead, you should eat a balanced diet as this will help your body to recover quickly and also reduce the possibility of complications. You can also consult a nutritionist for your post-operative care who can help in designing a diet plan for you.
Your diet should typically include

• Starchy foods like pasta, bread, and wholegrain rice
• Vegetables, fruits
• Fish like sardines and mackerel

2. Stop Smoking

Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease as it can increase your blood pressure by narrowing your arteries.

3. Lose The Extra Weight

You should maintain a healthy body weight to prevent your risk of heart disease. If you are obese or overweight, you should try to reach a healthy weight as this can keep heart problems at bay.
You should track your weight and inform your doctor if you notice a sudden drop or gain in your weight.

4. Exercise Regularly

After you have recovered from a heart bypass surgery, you can gradually start exercising.  It is recommended that adults should do aerobic exercises of moderate intensity for about 150 minutes a week. Some of these activities include hiking, fast walking, and doubles tennis. Such exercises can get your heart pumping, making it stronger. Thus, minimizing the risk of heart disease.

5. Go for Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation should be an important part of your post-operative care. Your cardiac rehab team will help you in making all the necessary lifestyle changes. As a part of your cardiac rehab program, you will also participate in exercises designed as per your condition and needs. You will also learn how to eat healthy to strengthen your heart and keep it healthy.

6. Take Your Medicines as Directed

Your doctor will prescribe you medicines after your heart bypass surgery. You should take these medicines as advised by our doctor to reduce the risk of heart problems. These include anticoagulants and antiplatelets to prevent clot formation. You may have to take these medicines for a few months as these can help reduce the possibility of a heart attack. You may also have to take statins to keep your cholesterol levels low. These are usually advised for life.

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Conclusion

Your heart is a powerful organ capable of performing multiple functions. Taking good care of it, especially after bypass surgery is vital to keep it healthy for a long time. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking your medications on time, you can say goodbye to heart problems in the future.

Reference Links:

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-artery-bypass-graft-cabg/living-with
• https://www.svhhearthealth.com.au/rehabilitation/after-cardiac-bypass-surgery