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Recovery
Heart Surgery: Breathing Exercises
Heart Surgery: Breathing ExercisesAfter heart surgery it is important that you take an active role in your recovery. One way to do this is to performbreathing exercises like Incentive Spirometry and Controlled Coughing. These breathing exercises helpstrengthen your lungs and prevent lung infections like Pneumonia. Perform these exercises as directed butexpect to do them about ten times every one to two hours.Incentive Spirometry is a lung exercise that helps you breathe easier by helping you breathe deeper. Use anincentive spirometer and take slow deep breaths.“Incentive spirometry is something that just kind of helps to keep your lungs open and working well.”“At first you can’t do it a lot but then days go by and you see the line goes up and higher and higheruntil you finally meet your goal.”Your healthcare team will set goals for you and will monitor your progress. To use an Incentive Spirometer: setthe indicator on the outside of the spirometer to the level your Cardiac care team has recommended for you.Sit up as straight as you can. Breathe out and put the mouthpiece in your mouth. Take a breath in slowly. Tryto keep the marker near the indicator on the outside of the spirometer.Hold your breath for two to 5 seconds and let the marker fall slowly back down to the bottom of the spirometer.Breathe out. Perform this routine as often as your Cardiac care team tells you to. As your breathing and lungsimprove, your cardiac care team may set new goals. Simply move the indicator on the outside of thespirometer to your new goal level and continue to exercise your lungs.“It’s going to cause some pain when you cough so we give you this pillow and you hug it when youcough, and it will splint your chest make it a little easier.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCHA10174B EN HeartSurgeryBreathingExercises.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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