How Do You Help Someone Recover After Heart Surgery?
When a person has heart surgery, they are usually required to have 24 hour care when they are first home. Many times insurance will cover a 2 week health care facility, but the person chooses to stay home. Here are a few tips to help them recover. First, refrain from asking them how they are. Most people who have had any kind of surgery, especially something as serious as heart surgery will become either angry or emotional when they are asked. Instead, say hello and ask if there is anything they need. Heart surgery medications will cause them to have a loss of appetite and dry mouth. Inquire what fresh fruits they enjoy, such as fresh cut watermelon and cantaloupe. These two fruits alone are helpful to their body in recovery. Cantaloupe promotes healthy lungs, and both fruits are good sources of potassium. When a patient’s chest tube is removed, they may be given a shot that will cause them to urinate often, removing their potassium. When that happens, and if their potassium lowers the
