What activities should I avoid after heart surgery?

Avoid these heavy activities that require effort after heart surgery until the follow-up visit with your doctor:

1. Household tasks

• stair climbing at a faster pace carrying objects
• scrubbing floor on hands and knees
• vacuuming
• moving or pushing furniture

2. Recreational activities

• golf, tennis, bowling
• volleyball, basketball, football
• vigorous dancing
• hiking, swimming, horseback riding

3. Yard work

• cutting the grass with a power mower
• pulling a garden hose
• weeding
• raking, hoeing, spading
• rototilling
• washing and waxing the car
• chopping wood or splitting logs

4. Home repairs

• heavy hammering or sawing
• painting large areas
• construction work
• climbing a ladder
• changing storm windows and screens

• Avoid heavy housework (such as vacuuming, scrubbing floors, or moving furniture).
• Avoid tasks that require holding your breath or tensing your body (such as opening stuck jar lids or windows).
• Avoid straining with bowel movements.
• Avoid lifting, pushing, or pulling anything over 10 pounds (including wet laundry, grocery bags, pets, or grandkids).
• Avoid mowing the lawn, shoveling or snow-blowing snow, or gardening.
• Avoid tasks that require you to keep your arms over your head or behind your back for long periods of time (such as washing windows or painting the ceiling).
• Avoid twisting your body when reaching.
• Avoid climbing stairs too quickly.
• Avoid hobbies or sports that may place stress on your sternum, if you had open heart surgery. Examples include fishing, golfing, and horseback riding.