Looking after yourself after heart surgery

After heart surgery, remember to pace yourself and follow the advice given to you by your physiotherapist.

• Get plenty of rest.
• Break tasks down and spread them throughout the day or week.

Your breastbone

Because your breastbone (sternum) was divided during your surgery, you should avoid putting too much strain through your chest, arms or shoulders until it has healed. This takes about 3 months. It is best to avoid:

• vacuuming
• DIY
• carrying heavy items such as bags of shopping
• lifting infants and children
• digging, mowing the lawn or cutting hedges
• walking a dog that pulls on a lead

If you need to lift something, you can minimise the strain by keeping the item close to your body, use both hands and keep your arms bent. Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a half-filled kettle.

If any activity hurts, STOP!

Exercise

Regular exercise is extremely important for your physical and mental health and will help to:

• get the best benefit from your surgery
• improve your cardiovascular fitness and return to everyday activities
• control blood pressure, weight and cholesterol (this lowers your risk of coronary heart disease in the future)
• give you a feeling well-being and increases confidence and quality of life
• prevent osteoporosis (weak bones)
• improves balance, co-ordination and flexibility
• improves circulation

It is important to pace yourself and listen to your body when exercising. To get the benefits of exercise you should feel:

• a little warm
• a slight increase in your heart rate, and
• moderately short of breath during exercise

Read more about the benefits of exercise of the NHS.uk website.

Walking

Walking is an ideal form of exercise. Begin by walking the distance you were walking in hospital for the first day or two at home. Increase the time you are walking by a few minutes every 1 to 2 days.

Healthy eating

It is common to have a loss of appetite, sense of smell and sense of taste, but these will return to normal in time.

You should not try to diet or lose weight while you are recovering as you need to regain your strength. If you have been advised to make changes to your diet, do this gradually. If you are already on a special diet for another medical condition, you should continue to follow this.

In the first few weeks:

• eat a balanced diet
• try to have 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• have small snacks throughout the day if you don’t fancy a large meal

Healthy eating will be covered in your cardiac rehabilitation course and further information can be obtained from your cardiac rehabilitation nurse, dietitian, GP or practice nurse.