Released on = March 29, 2006, 8:10 pm

Press Release Author = Open Heart Coach

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = One of a kind recovery guide reinforces the wisdom that
knowledge is power, and knowing what to expect during open-heart surgery recovery,
and preparing for it is a life-affirming process.

Press Release Body = Every year in the U.S. alone, 709,000 open-heart patients
(current AHA figures) plod through an arduous convalescence. Yet rarely are heart
patients told what to really expect during the stressful open-heart surgery recovery
period at home. Maggie Lichtenberg, a recent open-heart surgery thriver, former
publishing company executive, professional speaker, and coach (PCC), decided this
needed to change. Through dozens of interviews and weaving in her own personal
battle with heart disease, she wrote The Open Heart Companion: Preparation and
Guidance for Open-Heart Surgery Recovery (Pub Date June 13, 2006, ISBN:
0-9776063-0-9). This one of a kind recovery guide reinforces the wisdom that
knowledge is power, and knowing what to expect during open-heart surgery recovery --
and preparing for it - is a life-affirming process.

For those facing heart surgery, this book includes tips on recovery. A few include:

1. Organize a "home team" before, or just home from, your surgery. Dole out
assignments to friends and family - dinner nightly, buddy system, running errands,
housekeeping, chauffeuring - so your primary caregiver is supported along with you.

2. Arrange for spiritual and psychological support before, during, and especially
after the operation from people who will be willing to check in on you regularly
about your state of mind and soul.

3. Take a positive approach to avert intermittent depression during recovery -
combat lethargy, force yourself to get exercise despite your fatigue, explore
meditation, go into prayer, exchange supportive phone calls with another heart
patient, ask for help. Another seven tips are found in Chapter 10 of The Open Heart
Companion.

This is the first book written with the focus primarily on the recuperation period
with the goal of reducing fear and stress -- and maximizing support options -- by
simply planning ahead. Not only does the book empower patient and loved ones before
the open-heart surgery date; it also provides supportive guidelines, plan-ahead
exercises, bibliographic resources, checklists, glossary, and index for the
challenging "recovery gap" between hospital discharge and readiness for a cardiac
rehab program.

As Kathleen Blake, MD, President, New Mexico Heart Institute, states in the
Foreword, "Because The Open Heart Companion outlines a series of plans for
thoughtful and collaborative action, it will be equally useful for those assisting
in the care of a family member or friend."

If you know someone facing heart surgery, stop by our site,
http://www.openheartcoach.com today for the support you need. In addition to the
book, Lichtenberg offers an informative newsletter, a Recovery Organizer, coaching,
and a monthly phone support group.



Web Site = http://www.OpenHeartCoach.com

Contact Details = Maggie Lichtenberg||4 Cosmos Ct.||Santa Fe ,
87508||$$country||||505-986-8807||maggie_openheart@yahoo.com||http://www.OpenHeartCoach.com