If you need cardiovascular surgery, you’re not alone. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more than 2 million people around the world undergo open heart surgery each year. This surgical approach corrects aneurysms, irregular heart rhythms, blocked coronary arteries and more. While recovery after open heart surgery is different for everyone, there are some similarities.
Here are a few of them.
Recovery Starts in the Hospital
The first phase of recovering after open heart surgery takes place in the hospital. You may begin in the intensive care unit, where a team monitors you closely. If necessary, you may receive additional oxygen through a mask or nasal prongs.
Your team eventually transfers you to an inpatient room. The length of your hospitalization depends on the procedure you underwent and your overall health. While hospitalized, your team monitors you, keeping a close eye on the following:
- Blood pressure
- Breathing ability
- Heart rate
- Incision site
Home-Based Recovery After Open Heart Surgery
Most of your recovery after open heart surgery takes place at home. Your care team will teach you what steps to take and answer any questions before you head home.
By following your provider’s orders, you reduce your risk for post-surgery complications and increase your likelihood of a full recovery. A few items you’ll need to manage include:
- Exercise routine. Along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, physical activity strengthens your heart so you can return to your daily routine. Perform exercises and participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program as prescribed.
- Medication schedule. You may need pain medication or other drugs to manage your blood pressure, prevent blood clotting or protect your heart in other ways. Take the right dose at the right time every day.
- Mental health. Open heart surgery can lead to depression or other mental health issues. If you experience changes in your mental health, consult your provider.
- Personal life. Unless told otherwise, you may resume sexual activity when you feel comfortable and usually two to four weeks after discharge. Additionally, your provider may release you to return to light work as early as six weeks after surgery.
- Wound care. To protect against infection or other issues, it’s vital to care for your incision. Keep your incision site clean and properly bandaged to avoid unwanted problems.
When to Contact Your Provider
Recovery after open heart surgery can take a while. During the months after surgery, you may have a hard time eating, experience minor chest pain near your incision and occasionally feel short of breath. These issues should improve as you help your body to heal.
However, you should never ignore the side effects of cardiac surgery. Contact your provider if you notice the following:
- Dizziness, fainting or extreme fatigue
- Fever higher than 101 F or chills
- Heart rate that is slower or faster than normal (arrhythmia)
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath that doesn’t improve when resting
- Swelling or other changes in the incision wound
- Unexplainable and rapid weight gain
Expert cardiac care is available right here at Union Health. Find a provider who is ready to care for your heart.