Preparing your body

While you wait for your heart surgery there are lots of things you can do to prepare. These will help you to recover from your surgery and regain your independence as quickly as possible.

Read our information on Vital 5 ways to stay healthy.

Diet

People who are overweight have a higher risk of complications. Losing weight can help to reduce the stress on your heart and lungs and may also lower your blood pressure, improve diabetic control and reduce the risk of developing blood clots. It may also help you to exercise more easily after your operation and get back to your normal activity levels more quickly.

Start with small changes and concentrate on:

• eating the correct portion sizes
• reading food labels and avoiding those labelled in red
• swap foods high in fat and sugar that are heavily processed for unprocessed options such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains

A balanced, varied diet is recommended before and you should try to include 3 regular meals per day.

It is important to get enough energy and protein in your diet to help your body prepare. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportion:

• Base your meals on starchy foods like potato, bread, rice and pasta to make sure you are getting enough energy.
• Include protein rich foods, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses in your diet as these are very important for building and repairing your muscles.
• Include 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day to ensure adequate intake of vitamins and minerals for recovery.

If you have a poor appetite, are finding it difficult to eat or have experienced any unexpected weight loss before surgery, you may find eating little and often easier than eating 3 larger meals a day.

Please tell us about any eating difficulties you have at your pre-assessment clinic. You can also ask your GP to refer you to the dietitian.

It is important to drink lots of liquids, ideally 2 to 3 litres over 24 hours to prevent a urinary tract infection (UTI). This can be water, sugar free squash, or juices, but limit your intake of tea and coffee.

Staying active

Staying active is very important for all of us. Evidence shows that exercise has many physical benefits and increases your sense of well-being.

Exercise before your surgery can:

• reduce the risk of infections and blood clots after your operation
• reduce the number of days you are in hospital
• increase your ability to do your daily activities and/or return to work
• reduce fatigue (tiredness) and breathlessness

The benefits of exercise include:

• socialising
• improved energy levels
• help to feel more relaxed
• improves sleep, concentration and memory
• increases self confidence

Physical activity can also include everyday activities and things that you enjoy such as gardening, walking, housework or gentle cycling.

Avoid strenuous exercises such as press-ups, sit-ups or heavy lifting. Do not exercise when it is very hot. Drink plenty of water and do not exercise if you are feeling unwell.

Stop exercising if:

• you have a persistent shortness of breath
• you have chest pains or pains in any other part of the body
• you feel a rapid or irregular heartbeat
• you experience any dizziness or weakness

If your symptoms include chest pain, tightness or shortness of breath it is important to discuss your level of activity with the doctor or nurse you see in clinic.

Exercises

Practice these exercises at home before your admission as it is important to do both these exercises every hour after your surgery.

Breathing

After your surgery, you will be given deep breathing exercises to reduce the risk of chest infection. These should be done every hour.

• Technique. Take a slow deep breath in through your nose filling the very bottom of your lungs. Slowly breathe out through your mouth and relax. This should be done about 4 times an hour after your operation. Stop if you feel lightheaded.

Limbs

You will be spending more time than normal resting, either in bed or sitting in a chair. This lack of activity can increase the chance of blood clots forming in your legs so it is important to move them regularly.

• Technique. Switch between pointing your feet up and down on each leg for a couple of minutes. Then circle your ankles a number of times in both directions.

Dental health

Make sure that you see a dentist within a year before your heart surgery as it is important to ensure your gums and teeth are healthy to avoid the risk of infection. This is of particular importance if you are awaiting heart valve surgery. Infected gums or teeth can introduce bacteria into the blood stream, which can cause severe complications.

An anaesthetist will see you when you are in hospital for your surgery, make sure you tell them about any dental work you have had done.