Recovering from heart surgery is a journey that involves more than just physical healing. While the physical challenges are often discussed, the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery are equally significant but tend to be overlooked. Here's what to know about the psychological factors of heart surgery recovery so you know what to expect after surgery.
Recovering from heart surgery can be a long and challenging process, particularly during the immediate postoperative period. While some patients experience a relatively smooth recovery, others may encounter complications, such as sternal wound dehiscence—the reopening of the sternal wound.
If you or a loved one is having a sternotomy, you likely have a lot of questions about the procedure, the healing process, what to expect, and more. While it's always best to ask your doctor for guidance, it never hurts to do a bit of foundational research so you know what to ask.
It is quite common for patients to complain of having trouble sleeping after heart surgery. It can mean added stress during recovery, as patients are tired and want sleep, and because most recognize how vital sleep is to the recovery process.
Let's take a look at some of the factors that affect post-surgery sleep patterns as well as tips to help you sleep better.
When seniors need heart surgery, their children or other caregivers can have a lot of questions. It can be scary and overwhelming to start planning for that process. However, there are ways to overcome these uncertainties and approach heart surgery and post-surgery care with more confidence.
You likely know just how important hydration can be for overall health--but what about heart health? Here's everything you need to know about the connection between taking care of your thirst and taking care of your body.
Whether Heart Health Month is close to your heart for personal reasons or you just want to raise awareness about an important issue, February has plenty of opportunities for you. Here are a few key ways to participate alone or with friends and family.
If you are struggling with heart health or are recommended post-surgery for cardiac rehabilitation, also known as cardiac rehab, you want to pay attention. This is a heart health program provided by medical professionals that is used to improve your overall cardiac response and recovery rates. If you have had a heart attack, heart surgery, or suffer from heart disease, the use of cardiac rehab can also reduce symptoms associated with cardiac-related illnesses and conditions.
While your doctor is always the best source of information on any upcoming procedure, you likely have questions about what to expect and how your heart surgery (or a loved one's) compares to other surgeries. Here's a look at the different types of heart surgery and the one big thing they share.
Heart surgery recovery is not a journey the patient takes alone. Instead, it's one they share with their spouse every step of the way. If your husband is having heart surgery, it makes sense to want all the focus to be on him--but remember that you're having this experience, too. Here's what you can do to help make heart surgery recovery a little easier.