Heart disease is a leading cause of death in America. Fortunately, treatment options, including surgical procedures, continue to progress, saving many lives each year. Bypass surgery, the most common heart surgery, involves displacing part of a vein from your leg or chest arteries to reroute blood and oxygen flow to your heart. A heart-healthy diet and appropriate physical activity can help slow the progression of heart disease, promote healing following surgery and lower your risk for additional complications.
Guidelines
Although there is no one specific diet intended for heart surgery patients, the Cleveland Clinic recommends following the American Heart Association's guidelines for overall cardiovascular health, which include limiting saturated fat to no more than 7 percent of your daily calories, trans fats to no more than 1 percent of your daily calories, cholesterol to 300 mg per day and sodium, or salt, to 1,500 to 2,300 mg per day. Base your diet on fiber and antioxidant-rich foods, such as colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and replace unhealthy fat sources, such as red meat, butter, processed snacks and fried foods, with lean poultry, low-fat dairy products, cold-water fish, plant-based oils, nuts, seeds and avocados.
Managing Complications
Because heart surgery places significant stress on your body, you may experience a variety of complications during recovery. If postoperative medications cause unintentional weight loss, reduced appetite or nausea, the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine recommends eating small, frequent meals and taking medications on a full stomach, if possible. If your medications cause increased appetite, pay close attention to portion and calorie control, particularly if you carry excess weight. Eating more low-calorie, satiating foods, such as fresh produce, air-popped popcorn, low-fat yogurt and low-sodium broth-based soups and cutting back on calorie-rich foods, such as butter, high-fat cheese and sweets, can help keep your appetite in check. To manage constipation, stay well-hydrated and consume fiber-rich foods, such as beans, lentils, whole-wheat pasta, raspberries and prunes. Protein-rich foods, such as low-fat dairy products, fish and lean meats, promote proper healing and tissue repair.
Significance
Eating properly following heart surgery may help prevent secondary cardiovascular episodes, particularly when coupled with exercise. If you are obese, have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, you remain at risk for heart attack, stroke and other heart conditions. Dietary changes can help reduce these risk factors. According to a report published in "Current Atherosclerosis Reports" in 2008, a Mediterranean-style diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy fats, has a striking, positive impact on survival, protects against heart disease and reduces risks for fatal complications, such as heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
Exceptional Foods
Although many foods suit a heart-healthy diet, particular foods and nutrients may provide exceptional cardiovascular benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids, prevalent in fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, halibut and sardines, ground flaxseed, walnuts and canola oil, may help lower your risk for irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to sudden death, and slow the progression of arterial damage. Foods and beverages particularly rich in protective nutrients include colorful fruits and vegetables, such as berries, cherries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli, and green and black tea, which may help limit blood vessel constriction after fat-rich meals, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Heart Disease Facts; December 2010
- Texas Heart Institute Information Center; Heart Surgery Overview; August 2010
- Cleveland Clinic: Diet After Bypass Surgery
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine: A Patient's Guide to Heart Surgery
- "Current Atherosclerosis Reports"; The Mediterranean Diet: Rationale and Evidence for Its Benefit; Michel de Lorgeril, Patricia Salen; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Heart Disease Disease: Tips for Prevention; Michelle W. Murray; October 2009
