How Do You Care For Yourself After Open-Heart Surgery?
Open-heart surgery is usually performed to rectify congenital defects in a heart, to replace a defective valve or to bypass blood supply around blocked heart arteries. To benefit the most from the surgery, it’s important to take care of yourself during the healing process. Disclose all the facts about your present health condition to your doctor. The benefits you can expect will differ depending on your present heart and physical conditions. Ask your surgeon if you need to make any changes in your present lifestyle that could improve the benefits of the surgery. For example, if you are a smoker it is best to stop smoking immediately to avoid risks and gain maximum benefits from the surgery. Do as much research as you can about the upcoming surgery and how to maximize the benefits. Maximize the benefits of the surgery by taking care of yourself afterward. Wear snug elastic stockings during the day (and remove them at night) for at least two weeks after the surgery, to aid blood flow and
