Heart bypass surgery creates a new route for blood to flow to the heart. Surgeons remove part of a vein or artery from the patient's body and use it to create a bypass around a blocked or diseased artery. Heart bypass surgery involves opening the breastbone, stopping the heart and using a heart-lung machine to keep the patient alive while the bypass is accomplished. Since heart bypass surgery does not cure heart disease, doctors recommend that patients adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise. Health professionals encourage patients to engage in a doctor-supervised plan for easing into regular exercise.
Step 1
Discuss exercise with your doctor or your cardiac rehabilitation team. Ask when to begin an exercise or workout program. According to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, it takes six to eight weeks for a sternum to heal after heart surgery. You may be restricted to light physical activity during that time and warned against certain movements, such as lifting, pushing, pulling, raising your arms over your head and stretching.
Step 2
Choose a moderate exercise. This can include walking or a stationary bicycle for exercise after you return to your home. Walk on a level surface without incline or use a treadmill. The University of Wisconsin recommends performing this exercise four to six times a week.
Step 3
Work out for the length of time recommended by your doctor. Increase that time by one to two minutes each day. Work slowly and consistently towards a goal of 30 to 45 minutes of continuous exercise during one session.
Step 4
Choose the intensity of your workout. Do the talk test to evaluate your heart rate. A comfortable level of intensity allows you to talk in short sentences, but not sing, while exercising.
Step 5
Measure your heart rate. Do this to find out your normal heart rate and to make sure it does not increase during exercise more than 30 beats per minutes over your at-rest heart rate. The University of Wisconsin recommends taking your heart rate for a few days to learn what a normal heart rate is for you. Call your doctor if your heart rate is below 50 beats per minutes or above 120 while at rest.
Step 6
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing. Cover your nose and mouth in cold air. Avoid heavy coats and wear athletic shoes to reduce impact. Women should wear sports bras to protect their breastbones.
Step 7
Follow the same routine during your workouts. Warm up for three to five minutes. Walk at a brisk pace or cycle at a moderate speed of 40 to 50 rpm. Take your heart rate and pulse before cooling down. Cool down for two to five minutes to avoid sudden blood pressure changes and check your heart rate after cool-down.
Step 8
Record your heart rates, responses and feelings after your workout. Your medical and rehabilitation team can use your recorded information to guide adjustments to your workout routine.
Step 9
Stop exercising if you experience abnormal responses. While it is normal to breathe more quickly, sweat and have muscle aches, severe heart pain and shortness of breath which leaves you unable to talk are signals to stop. Other signs that you should stop your workout are excessive sweating, cramping in your arms or legs, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, skipped heart beats or unusual weakness on one side of your body.
Tips and Warnings
- Cardiac rehabilitation begins in the hospital and carries over to your home and possibly to a rehabilitation facility. Rehabilitation is a process based on your health and capabilities.
- Follow the instructions of your medical and rehabilitation team regarding exercise and workouts following heart surgery.
Member Comments