Chest Care Rules
You need to follow these rules for 2 to 3 months after your heart surgery, unless
your doctor tells you otherwise. This will help your chest incision heal and will
put less stress on the surgery site. It will also allow you to recover with less
chance of breaking the sternal bone wires.
• Do not let anyone pull on your arms or chest.
• Keep a pillow or folded towel or blanket with you to splint your chest incision
when coughing, sneezing, getting up, sitting down, and lying down.
• Do not lift more than 5 pounds. Five pounds is not ver HX]