A Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) or Heart Bypass surgery can actually add more years of pleasure and delight in your life. It gives you freedom from the life-threatening blockages in your heart arteries which improves your cardiovascular health.
The recovery after CABG is a life-changing experience & isn’t just physical but also psychological. Long- term recovery after CABG involves the efficient management of the risk factors like diet & physical activities. Various healthcare professionals & support groups helps you to achieve a sooner recovery.
You will have to follow the instructions that includes medication, physical activities and other lifestyle changes given by the doctor so that you can return to your normal life as quickly as possible.
1. Medications
In your discharge summary, the medical team will prescribe medication that will encourages sooner recovery & reduce all the possible risk factors. These medications will mainly help:
- To decrease the cholesterol level
- To prevent the clotting of blood
- To lower blood pressure
- To control pain in the chest
2. Quit smoking
Smoking can cause severe damage to the walls of the arteries & coronary blockages in the arteries. If you continue smoking, it may cause further damage to our heart so quitting is essential.
3. Healthy diet
Your doctor will give a heart-healthy diet plan at the time of discharge which will be low in cholesterol with saturated fats that will stop accumulation of plaque inside the walls of artery.
4. Physical activities
Your doctor will give you certain guidelines to limit some activities before the bone in the chest that was opened during the bypass surgery heals completely. These activities includes carrying heavy weights, bending & swimming. Walking is an excellent option for rebuilding your activity level gradually.
5. Stress management
Stress is a risk factor for heart disease as stress & heart disease are chain reactions. Stress can be managed by:
- Making positive face- to- face connection with other people
- Moving body more frequently, don’t sit at one place for too long
- Doing something that you enjoy
- By learning to avoid, alter, adapt or accept
- By getting restful sleep
Just remember one thing, it is you who has to be by your side!