Heart Surgery – Post-Operative Nutrition
by Anna Hart
Filed under Heart Disease Treatment
After heart surgery, post-operative nutrition becomes a matter of great concern. Anyone who has undergone open heart surgery for bypass of blocked arteries, valve repair, or other complications can attest that the thought of a repeat performance is repulsive. Full recovery from heart surgery is desired, and patients fresh out of heart surgery are willing to make many sacrifices, including diet.
In the first days after heart surgery, post-operative nutrition will be explained to patients by the surgeon. As patients go through recovery in the weeks after heart surgery, post-operative nutrition should be put into place fully, whether the patient is pediatric or geriatric.
Post-Operative Nutrition Needs
With heart surgery, post-operative nutrition should include the following if recovery is to be complete.
* plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli and carrots
* whole grains such as brown rice and whole oatmeal
* tuna and salmon
* lean meat only
* daily vitamin supplement
* Omega 3 supplement
* Vitamin E
* Vitamin C
* plenty of fluid, especially water
After heart surgery, post-operative nutrition must include vitamin supplements if health is to be maintained.
Heart surgery patients should avoid rich cream sauces and fatty foods. Heart-healthy recipes are available from the American Heart Association. Your heart surgery team may also provide seminars after heart surgery in post-operative nutrition.
Weight Loss
After heart surgery, post-operative nutrition concerns must include diet to reach and maintain a healthy weight. The heart is forced to work harder when a person is overweight. This is especially true if the weight is at the waist. Ask your physician what you should weigh and what you can do to reach that weight.
Exercise
Exercise is also vital to heart surgery, post-operative nutrition of the body. Many heart patients are fearful to exercise, believing they may delay recovery or cause repeat heart surgery. Your cardiologist or surgeon will probably order physical therapy after heart surgery. You will exercise while a trained medical professional monitors your heart. Stand straight and walk freely. Ask your doctor what exercise you can do besides that under the guidance of the heart surgery team.
CAUTION: This information is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. You should not rely on this information to make health decisions. Consult the surgeon who performed your heart surgery, or your cardiologist, about your personal condition.
My dad had open heart surgery year ago so I just want to know what is good food for him to eat that is vegetarian. He only eats seafood and turkey. Please advise.
I had a quadruple bypass in 2000 and my current cardiologist has me following the “Eat to Live” book by Dr. Fuhrman. It does allow for some meat but it is primarily vegetarian. In fact, the first 6 weeks of the diet is completely vegetarian. I have been on the diet for 8 weeks now and my cholesterol is right where the cardiologist wants it. It may not be the best diet for your father, but it has certainly been recommended by one of the world’s best cardiologists. He even follows that life style himself.
My Dallas physical therapist advised me to keep my vegan diet. I’ve been on this diet for 3 years now. And if your dad can’t give up meat, there’s veggie meat i.e. veggie tuna, as an alternative. And it’s made of organic ingredients so it’s healthy. Cholesterol-free!