Heart failure is not an uncommon topic now, and many suffer from it. It is like a hidden disease for many. Around 75% of heart failure patients in Bangalore reach doctors later or in a critical stage because of the lack of awareness. Metropolitan cities like Bangalore change the lifestyle of every single person living there and so invites lifestyle diseases.
Even the doctors from the best heart hospital in Bangalore say around 60% of the patients with heart disease have diabetes, and 50% have high blood pressure. Coronary heart disease is one of the serious diseases and will lead to heart transplant of the patient. Heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, etc., are some other conditions that will require a heart transplant.
There are many things you need to take care of after the heart transplant surgery.
After the transplant, your journey to recovery and healing begins. The recovery will be challenging but not impossible; you and your family need to take care of a few things.
Once you discharge, you need to stay close to the hospital where you were admitted. You need to have a regular check-up with the heart transplant team to further process and analyze the situation.
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As you are recovering from the surgery, you need to:
- Take care of the incision site.
- Take medicines properly.
- Do the follow-up tests and appointments with the doctor.
- Focus on regaining the strength you had before. Move around, walk and do small exercises if the doctor permits.
The recovery lasts from 6 to 12 weeks. During this period, you need to keep up with the breathing exercise you did in the hospital.
Along with the follow-ups, keep track of and report the changes in the following:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Blood pressure
- Weight
Prevention of heart rejection and infection
Rejection is expected in some cases of heart transplants. The body may reject the new organ, but proper medicines and care can cure it.
To prevent it, you’ll need to take anti-rejection medicine every day for a long time. It is vital for recovery, and proper check-ups are to monitor these things. Ensure you are consulting the best doctors from the best heart hospital in Bangalore if you cannot visit your surgery/transplant team.
You are taking the medicines to prevent these:
- Pain
- Infection
- High blood pressure and diabetes
- High cholesterol and lipid levels
What can you do to prevent infection after the surgery?
- Wash hands often
- Avoid crowds during the peak times of diseases, like flu season
- Ask friends and relatives not to visit you when they are sick
Next comes the diet and nutrients for a healthy heart. The transplant team will give you a diet plan for the coming day when you discharge. It is advised to strictly follow the diet plan as particular food can affect your medicines; the medication can affect your phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium level in your body. You need to be careful while eating high nutrient foods.
The diet may consist of the following:
- Limit fat, salt, and sugar intake.
- Fruits, veggies, and lean meat as recommended.
- Stop eating salty snacks, canned soups, and premade meals that tend to be high in sodium.
Now you need to do this last thing for a healthy recovery.
Exercise your heart regularly, i.e., move around regularly to prevent blood clotting as it increases blood circulation. Small workouts, on the moderate level as suggested by your doctor for gaining strength overall.
The following steps can prevent blood clotting:
- Take short naps when you feel like it, but don’t sleep a lot.
- Have short walks in the morning or evening.
- Attend cardiac rehab programs.
- Keep a calm mind and do entertaining stuff without family.
Following these things can indeed reduce any complications in the future and strengthen your heart and body faster.
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