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How Diet Impacts Cardiac Rehab

diet after heart surgery

There are a lot of tips associated with the recovery of a patient after heart surgery. Most people do not think that one’s diet plays a role. This would be a wrong assumption. Your dietary habits are actually essential to this process. In fact, adopting good habits can help you to avoid future problems with your heart. Healthy eating is a good technique to encourage the healing process after heart procedures.

Patients who have had dietary problems or suffer from obesity may have problems in this area. In these cases, doctors provide instructions for what foods are best for your diet. Many patients find it difficult to get back to a regular eating schedule. Some even say that their appetites are gone. Smaller and frequent meals are often the best option for these patients. You should keep dietary habits that will benefit overall health and become a lifestyle change.

More Fruits and Veggies

Preventing Sternal Dehiscence

prevent Sternal Dehiscence

One of the unfortunate side effects of having heart surgery is the long and arduous recovery process that immediately follows the procedure. For some, this recovery process is easier than expected and health returns after a few weeks. For others, there are complications that are associated with recovery. One of these complications is known as sternal wound dehiscence, or the reopening of the sternal wound. Heart Hugger was invented, among other things, as a way to prevent sternal wound dehiscence and providing postoperative sternal support to patients recovering from heart surgery. 

What to Expect For Cardiac Rehab After Heart Surgery

Cardiac Rehab expectations

Heart surgery is a process that can take months to recover from. Heart Hugger is specifically designed to provide comfort, accelerate healing, and provide relief overall to the chest. Recovery is by far the most important part, so we have listed some things to expect in the hospital, at home, and long-term care that will help you prepare for what is to come. 

The Creation of Heart Hugger

heart hugger logo

Heart Hugger has been providing sternum support for cardiac and thoracic surgery patients for over twenty years. Because of this amazing invention, the success rates of postoperative success have risen exponentially. Testimonials all over the nation are giving their input on how Heart Hugger benefited them with their recovery.

So what how was this wonderful creation invented? The questions of who, what, where, when and why are answered below:

The Advantages of Heart Hugger Respiratory Splinting

Respiratory Splinting

In the year of 1988, the FDA classified Heart Hugger as a Class I Medical Device. The following year, Heart Hugger was Medicare Approved. Surgeons and patients alike have given their testimonials on how Heart Hugger has helped them.

Since 1988, hospitals, surgeons, and patients alike have reaped the benefits of Heart Hugger. Below are the examples of how Heart Hugger has done exactly that:

Improve Recovery after Heart Surgery

Improve Recovery after Heart Surgery

No one wants to have to undergo heart surgery. When this situation occurs, however, there are things that you can do to ensure that your recovery is complete. Each patient will have a different experience. This will relate to their initial condition, as well as, the complexity of their surgery. There are products that you can purchase that improve recovery. The Heart Hugger is one example of these products. It works to protect the sternum area.

Watch for Red Flags

There are a number of things that could occur in this area that can slow down recovery. In some instances these things could lead to more hospital treatment. Here are some of the things to watch for:

Benefits of a Stabilization Device

Benefits of a Stabilization Device

Going in for a procedure is always a daunting undertaking for a patient. There are probably a million questions that want to be asked, all of which can leave you even more confused than when you started. There are some basic needs that all patients will go through after cardiac surgery and during cardiac surgery rehabilitation. One of these needs is to have a good support system that can help support the wound in the sternum. Since almost all cardiac surgery needs to be done by opening up the chest, sternum stabilization after the procedure is a necessity when it comes to pain management and the healing process.

The Advantages of Heart Hugger Respiratory Splinting

The Advantages of Heart Hugger Respiratory Splinting

In the year of 1988, the FDA classified Heart Hugger as a Class I Medical Device. The following year, Heart Hugger was Medicare Approved. Surgeons and patients alike have given their testimonials on how Heart Hugger has helped them.

Since 1988, hospitals, surgeons, and patients alike have reaped the benefits of Heart Hugger. Below are the examples of how Heart Hugger has done exactly that:

What to Expect After Heart Surgery

What to Expect After Heart Surgery

Do you remember the first time you saw a diagram of a real human heart? The sight was probably shocking, considering most of us spend our young childhood years imagining a heart as a simple, rounded shape that exchanges medical accuracy for endearing charm. Your viewpoint of the heart was changing, and suddenly, your own heart seemed alien and extraordinary. After cardiac surgery, the same thing is happening--your viewpoint of your own heart is changing once again. As a result, it can often be a great comfort to simply know what to expect after heart surgery.

The History of Sternal Dehiscence

The History of Sternal Dehiscence

The midline sternotomy made its entrance into the clinical world, but not without complications. Sternal infection was on the rise. Sternal dehiscence was treated with open drainage and debridement with packing. Results included complications like graft exposure, desiccation of wound margins, osteomyelitis, and death. In 1963, Shucker and Mandelbaum introduced closed management with catheter-antibiotic irrigation. Survival rates increased, but they were still pretty slim. With the mortality risks, there was great desire to discover better wound care.

Changes in Management

First of all, sternal instability was causing mediastinal infections of the wounds. The surgeon must take the time to use the meticulous technique when doing a sternotomy. Proper placement reduces the risks of mediastinitis.

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