Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, so heart health is something everyone should make a priority. This is especially true seeing as how about 610,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease annually. But sometimes heart health gets neglected or unexpected diseases strike and heart surgery may be necessary. So if you have to schedule a heart procedure in the future, here are a few important steps to take.
Choose a cardiac surgeon: One of the most important steps to take when planning a heart surgery is choosing a cardiac surgeon. You should meet with several cardiologists before choosing one so you can ensure you’re making the right decision. When meeting with potential surgeons, you should ask questions regarding their experience and methods. In doing this, you can feel confident in the surgeon you choose. In the end, it’s important to go with the heart surgeon who makes you feel the most comfortable and can provide the best treatment.
Eat healthily and exercise: If your heart surgery is planned far in advance, you should use the time you have to get your body as healthy as possible. It’s important to remember that the better shape you are in before the surgery, the easier it will be to recover from surgery. So you should eat healthy, exercise, as long as it’s approved by your doctor, and quit smoking and drinking. In order for postsurgical healing to go as smoothly as possible, you should be at your best health.
Ask important questions: Surgery can be a scary, complex event to comprehend. So before your surgery, make sure you ask any questions you may have regarding your upcoming procedure. Questions you may want to ask could include things like potential recovery time, whether or not you’ll need cardiac rehab, what lifestyle changes you’ll need to make, and any risks associated with the surgery. The more you know about your procedure, the less scared you’ll be.
Having any kind of surgery can be a very overwhelming experience. But hopefully, this article will help you feel more prepared for your upcoming heart procedure.