How Cardiac Rehab Helps You Recover After Bypass Surgery

Undergoing coronary bypass surgery is one step on the road to better heart health.

The surgery helps restore the flow of blood to the heart by diverting – or bypassing – it around a blocked coronary artery. The blood is transported around the blocked artery by using a blood vessel from another part of the body.

Once the procedure has been conducted, cardiac rehabilitation takes additional steps to address issues that may have led to the surgery in the pursuit of a healthier life from that point forward. Medication may be prescribed to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of further blockages.

What Cardiac Rehab Involves

Embassy Healthcare offers a cardiac care program at its Longmeadow (Ravenna, Ohio) community, offering a comprehensive approach to providing patients with the tools and resources necessary to live with heart disease. A customized plan may include an exercise program, smoking cessation resources, education concerning lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of heart disease, and emotional support.

Embassy Healthcare offers the following cardiac rehab services:

• Preventative care
• On-site cardiac care
• Dietary monitoring and guidelines
• A personalized heart care plan developed by skilled clinicians
• Continued education to help the patient carry out their plan at home

Who Cardiac Rehab May Benefit

Cardiac rehab may be a good choice for those who have experienced certain heart conditions or treatments, including:

• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Heart failure
• Pain in chest (angina)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Congenital heart disease
• Angioplasty and stents

Lifestyle Modifications

To reduce the risks of heart disease progressing or more blood clots, there are a number of lifestyle modification bypass patients should make. These may include:

• Quit smoking: Those who quit smoking can significantly reduce their risk of further heart problems – and quickly. Just one year after quitting, an individual’s risk of dying from heart disease is cut in half.
• Watch your diet: Follow a heart-healthy diet consisting of poultry, seafood, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, beans and nuts instead of fatty meats and food high in sugar and fat. Beware of sugar in low-fat foods.
• Address mental health: Many people experience feelings of anxiety and depression after surgery. These feelings can decrease your likelihood of following through on positive lifestyle modifications. Support groups and antidepressant medication may be helpful for the 40% of people struggling with mental illness after the procedure.
• Reduce stress: Stress is a silent killer, capable of increasing your risk of chest pain, heart attack and stroke. Cardiac rehab programs will offer suggestions on ways you can reduce stress at work and at home.

For more information about the cardiac care program at Embassy Healthcare communities in Ohio, call 888-975-1379 or contact us online.