Recovery After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)
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Recovery After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)
Medicines after a heart attack and "Coronary heart disease"). The medicines can help you live longer and prevent blockages in your blood vessels from getting worse. Some also help treat chest pain and other heart symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ
If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes (high blood sugar), your doctor will likely prescribe medicines to treat those conditions. пїЅ пїЅ
It's important to take your medicines exactly the way your doctor says. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any side effects or problems with the medicines. You should also let him or her know if you can't afford your medicines. There are often ways to solve these problems. пїЅ пїЅ
What is cardiac rehab? " пїЅ Cardiac rehab (short for "cardiac rehabilitation " пїЅ) is a program that your doctor might recommend for you. At cardiac rehab, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals teach you how to keep your heart healthy. They will help you: пїЅ пїЅ
When can I have sex again? " пїЅ Check with your doctor about when it is safe to start having sex again. If you had a heart attack, the timing will depend on your heart attack and if you still have symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ
After CABG, some people are less interested in sex or do not enjoy sex as much. This can be a side effect of certain heart medicines. It can also happen if people are sad or worried about having a heart attack during sex. If you have problems with sex, let your doctor or nurse know. He or she might be able to treat those problems. пїЅ пїЅ
When can I drive again? " пїЅ Check with your doctor. He or she might not want you to drive again until your chest has healed from your surgery. пїЅ пїЅ
Which symptoms should I watch for? " пїЅ It's important to watch for chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack (figure 3). But it is uncommon for people to have a heart attack in the months after CABG. пїЅ пїЅ
If you think you might be having a heart attack, call for an ambulance right away (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1). Do not try to get to the hospital on your own. пїЅ пїЅ
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ
пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
- Exercise safely " пїЅ Getting regular exercise can help keep your heart healthy. Your doctor or nurse will work with you to make an exercise program that is safe for you. He or she will tell you how often and how hard to exercise. Each time you exercise, make sure to warm up for 5 to 10 minutes first. Then you can do "aerobic exercise " пїЅ for at least 20 minutes. Aerobic exercise raises your heart rate and includes activities such as walking, swimming, and jogging. After you work out, make sure to cool down for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Improve your diet " пїЅ Eating the right foods can help keep your heart healthy. Fruits, vegetables, and foods with fiber can help prevent heart disease and strokes (figure 2). Try to avoid eating foods that can make heart disease worse. These include "trans " пїЅ fats, which are found in many fast foods. "Saturated " пїЅ fats, which are found in red meats and many cheeses, can also worsen heart disease.
- Lose weight, if you are overweight.
- Quit smoking, if you smoke " пїЅ Stopping smoking can lower your chance of getting or dying from heart disease. To quit, you can try nicotine patches, gum, or nasal sprays. (Nicotine is the main drug in cigarettes.) You can also try a prescription medicine to help stop cigarette cravings.
- Cope with feeling sad or worried " пїЅ Many people feel sad or worried after CABG. Your doctor or counselor can help you with these feelings and, if needed, treat your depression.
- Reduce the stress in your life " пїЅ Stress can worsen heart disease.
Coronary heart disease
In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
Coronary heart disease
In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
Foods with fiber
Foods with a lot of fiber include prunes, apples, oranges, bananas, peas, green beans, kidney beans, cooked oatmeal, almonds, peanuts, and whole-wheat bread.
Graphic 79063 Version 1.0
Foods with fiber
Foods with a lot of fiber include prunes, apples, oranges, bananas, peas, green beans, kidney beans, cooked oatmeal, almonds, peanuts, and whole-wheat bread.
Graphic 79063 Version 1.0
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0