Heart Hugger Blog

Like any serious operation, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has an intricate aftercare journey. The more you know about this process, the more prepared you'll be to follow your doctor's directions and reduce your risk of serious complications. Here's a look at what to expect from CABG aftercare and how you can take an active part in your healing journey.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a major operation. The recovery process can take weeks--but if you know what to expect and how to care for yourself, it's much easier to prevent complications, improve comfort, and even heal more quickly. Here's what to know.

Heart health is an important topic for everyone. After all, heart health plays a huge role in the overall function and comfort of the human body. Because heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the CDC, it's especially important for people of all ages to be informed about heart health and how to protect this vital organ.

During the heart surgery recovery process, you might not be in the mood to want to stand up and walk around. However, walking can actually help you recover faster by improving your strength. This means you can get back to feeling like your usual self a lot sooner. Here’s why you won’t want to skip the walks that your doctor recommends.

As you prepare for heart surgery, you’ll need to start thinking about how you can transform your house into the perfect place for your recovery. While the recovery process for any major surgery is no walk in the park, there are ways to prepare yourself for the coming weeks. Here are some factors you should consider to make your recovery a smoother experience.

After heart surgery, deciding what to wear becomes a lot more complicated! Clothes are harder to put on than they used to be. And those fun fabrics now irritate the incision wound. Suddenly, those fashionable clothes filling your wardrobe just look daunting to wear.So, what should you wear? Let’s look at the best clothing options to wear after surgery.

During heart surgery recovery, it's helpful to know what to expect--and, perhaps most importantly, what your body needs from you. Here are a few tips to help you manage one aspect of your recovery: activity after heart surgery.

After an invasive procedure like heart surgery, patients are hit with the reality that it’ll take some time before they feel normal again. The weeks, or even months ahead, can seem daunting as patients dread what kind of pain they might experience. However, with a little bit of planning, the good news is that your recovery doesn’t have to be this way.

Complications after heart surgery aren't just bad news for patients—they also impact hospitals. Wound complications in a patient can be devastating financially for hospitals, especially when handling Medicare and co-morbid patients.

The cost to hospitals can range from $13,000 to $100,000 per complication. Then add on the financial penalties that hospitals face for having excessive readmissions according to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. It’s evident that there is a great need to reduce the chances of complications following a patient’s surgery.

The more prepared before and after heart surgery you are, the quicker you can recover. There’s not a more important time to stay in tune with your body than while recovering. It is essential to the recovery process that you note pain and discomfort. This is especially critical for the incision site and surrounding areas.