Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgery performed to relieve angina, and to reduce the risk of death from heart blockage. It improves the flow of blood to the heart. Coronary artery bypass graft is suggested for people with severe coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease.

 Coronary artery bypass graft becomes necessary, when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. The function of arteries is to provide oxygen-rich blood to the heart while plaques are fat, cholesterol and calcium found in the blood. This plaque makes the quality of the blood insufficient to perform the functions well enough. If the plaque is serious enough, it creates angina (chest pain), shortness of breath or a heart attack.

Coronary artery bypass graft is the most common open heart surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeons perform this surgery. For someone who suffers from CHD, Coronary artery bypass graft is often  the end measure to treat it. It is more important for someone who is suffering from CHD to have a lifestyle change.

With accumulation of fat due to improper food and lifestyle, a lifestyle changed is needed even after Coronary artery bypass graft. Patient needs to change his/her diet, or may require the intake of medicine. There is another procedure called angioplasty, where a small mesh tube called a stent is placed in an artery, to help keep it open. Coronary artery bypass graft, or angioplasty is a procedure that is deployed only when the condition of the patient is severe.

For a patient undergoing Coronary artery bypass graft, the common goal would be to improve quality of life, and to reduce symptoms of angina and CHD. This allows you to live a more active lifestyle.

However, patients who underwent Coronary artery bypass graft, would need to change their lifestyle substantially in order to reap the benefits of bypass. Among the changes needed,  changes eating habits tops the list. They need to reduce consumption of fatty food and also, reduces the plaque built up in the arteries.

For those who are smokers, it would be better to stop smoking altogether in order to live better.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Regular exercise is also imperative. Exercise promote more oxygen to the heart. Through a daily exercise of just thirty minutes, there will be a substantial change in the life of a patient suffering from such heart symptoms.

 The goal of a Coronary artery bypass graft, is also to reduce the risk of heart attack. For people who have suffered from a heart attack, the heart would not be pumping so well already. With a bypass, it enables the heart pump better.

There is a possibility that a few patients need to have repeat surgery, if the arteries are blocked or if new blockages are developed in arteries that were not blocked before. Taking medicine on a regular basis, helps reduce such occurrence. Medication helps lower the chances of a graft becoming block.

The results of such surgeries are normally excellent. After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CAGB), 85 percent of people report significantly reduced symptoms, and less risk of future heart attack. However, please note that only the surgery is not enough. A total lifestyle change is needed in order to improve the patient’s health.