Coronary bypass surgery is a common but serious operation. To divert blood flow, surgeons connect blood vessels from elsewhere in your body to the area around the blocked artery. Following the procedure, you must spend several days in the hospital on a controlled diet. Once you return home, you must continue to control your diet on your own. Your doctor should advise you of any dietary needs specific to your condition.
Importance
While bypass surgery will alleviate chest pain and improve blood flow to your heart, it is not a "cure" for the artery disease that likely was at the root of your blockage. Post-surgery, it is critical to maintain a healthy diet so you will not become part of the 20 to 30 percent of bypass surgery patients who need a second procedure within 10 years of their first. A good diet can help control several conditions that increase your risk of more serious heart disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. You will also have to supplement your diet with whatever exercise program and medication regimen your doctor recommends.
What To Eat
The American Heart Association, AHA, dietary guidelines call for a diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals and also are high in fiber, so you will feel full without adding a lot of extra calories. Whole-grains are also healthy and filling, which will help you control your weight; however, check labels to make sure they are indeed unrefined. The AHA also recommends that you eat oily fish such as salmon and tuna at least twice a week. You also can eat other lean meats such as poultry without skin. Low- and non-fat dairy products are also a good choice.
What To Avoid
Less than seven percent of the calories in your diet should come from saturated fat. Foods high in saturated fat include red meat, whole milk, butter, luncheon meats like salami and fried foods. Boil, steam or bake instead of frying. Because sodium elevates blood pressure, you should eat no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily. High-sodium foods include cured meats, frozen dinners, canned soups, olives, pickles and Chinese food prepared with monosodium glutamate, MSG. You also should limit your intake of sodas, sweets and other sugar-filled foods because these can elevate your triglycerides. You can drink alcohol but only in moderation.
Considerations
Recovering fully from bypass surgery can take several weeks and it is common for you to experience nausea or a loss of appetite during this period. Your post-surgery medications might aggravate these problems. Even so, you need a healthy diet to hasten your recovery so try eating frequent, small meals instead of a few large meals per day. Let your doctor know if you find yourself unable to eat at all. Depending on your condition, your doctor might put you on an even stricter diet. If your surgery followed heart failure, you might have to limit your daily sodium intake to under 2,000 mg. If you are diabetic, you will need to heavily moderate your sugar intake.
