How diet and lifestyle boost surgery recovery shows the importance of a healthy lifestyle to your pre-surgery immune system boost and post-surgery recovery.
Though no one likes the thought of undergoing surgery, no matter how simple, some people must take the plunge at some stage. So are you planning for surgery – fibroid removal, appendectomy, hip replacement, kidney transplant or coronary artery graft? Then it is time for action: adapt your diet, exercise, and use alternative therapies to improve your health beforehand and speed recovery afterwards.
Pre-Surgery Habit
Get physically and mentally fit
But do not panic, as an operation need not wipe you out. So long as you prepare properly, you will soon bounce back. The sooner you start the pre-op healthy lifestyle, the better, but it is never too late. First, you need to create the right conditions to promote recovery. Getting physically and mentally fit is essential. For instance, an overweight or too thin body has trouble healing.
So get as close as you can to your ideal weight. Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet will give you various health benefits – from improving circulation in skin and tissues to increasing the heart’s capacity to cope with physical stress. Supplements can also help prepare the body for surgery and better wound healing. Try vitamin A, C and zinc in the weeks after an operation, while your body will also need more ‘healthy’ calories and protein to aid in the quick repair of tissues.
Be careful with some medications/supplements
Let your doctors know of any medications you are taking before an operation. Some long-term drugs like aspirin and anticoagulants like warfarin interfere with blood clotting, so you might need to reduce the dosage or stop taking them for a while. Other painkillers, such as ibuprofen, can also affect clotting, so ask for advice.
Some herbal remedies can have unwanted effects during surgery, too. Many popular ones like ginkgo, ginseng, dong quai, feverfew and garlic can make bleeding worse; St John’s wort may interfere with drugs used during or after surgery; kava and valerian can interact with anaesthetic drugs. It is best to stop taking them before surgery and give it at least a week afterwards before you start reaping the benefits again.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol
Build up your body by eliminating poisons from it, particularly alcohol and tobacco. One common complication after chest or abdominal surgery is a lung infection, which is harder to treat in smokers. If you cannot give up smoking, cut right down. Alcohol is a long-term poison. Overindulgence in unhealthy habits (alcohol) damages the liver, increasing the risk of bleeding, as well as interfering with the metabolism of many medications, so cutting back in advance will help recovery.
Get a dental check
Healthy teeth are important, particularly before surgery on the heart or major blood vessels, or operations to introduce joint replacements. This is because teeth are a sanctuary for bacteria, which can get into the bloodstream and settle in areas where they are hard to flush out, causing infections. Get infected gums, loose teeth or poor bridgework repaired as soon as possible.
Don’t forget to ask questions
It’s important to fully understand the reason for the operation and be certain you are convinced and want the surgery done. Be forthcoming with your questions: what the operation involves, roughly how long it will take, and what treatment will follow it. Prayer can be said before an operation, or soft music can be played in operating theatres. This is not only for the benefit of the operating staff, but also to soothe the unconscious patient. There also has to be a calm and reassuring attitude from the theatre staff, helping everyone come out of the operation feeling more positive.
Post Surgery Healthy Habits
Rest and Good Sleep
The same healthy habits pre-operation should continue after: rest and good sleep, a peaceful environment and plenty of information about what’s happening to you make for a faster recovery. Remember that an early discharge from the hospital does not mean you have recovered fully from surgery. You still need to take things slowly, as full recovery from a major operation may take anything from three to six months or longer. Recovering from a general anaesthetic alone can take a while, with the last traces finally leaving the system after about a week.
Tips For Faster Recovery From Surgery
Herbs, Healthy diet and Supplements
Herbs, a healthy diet, and supplements are safe and quickly stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities.
- Arnica (leopard’s bane) reduces swelling and bruising and helps the body recover from shock. Helpful after hip replacements or back operations.
- St John’s wort is good for healing damaged nerves and relieving pain. Take it after dental surgery or surgery areas rich in nerves, such as fingers and toes. However, since St. John’s wort can interfere with drugs used during and after the operation, stop taking it beforehand and leave at least a week afterwards before starting again.
Healthy Diet
Meat, seafood, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds and eggs are good sources of zinc, which can help prepare the body for surgery by toning the immune system and helping ward off infection.
It is also great for speeding wound healing afterwards. It has an anti-inflammatory action on the body. You can take a supplement if you feel you are not getting enough in your diet.
Low GI diet – A diet rich in low-glycemic index (GI) foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and wholegrain cereals, will help you feel more energetic after an operation. Low GI foods release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, helping keep blood sugar levels steady.
Supplements
Bee propolis has a wide range of benefits. It is a healing antiseptic, a natural antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. You will find it in liquid form, capsules and tablets. Take 500mg once or twice daily.
Herbal liquid iron is a good pick-me-up tonic after surgery. It can help beat fatigue and get you fighting fit again. A liquid form is easier for the body to absorb and is often mixed with B vitamins for their additional energy and health-boosting qualities. You can also try drinking juice from pumpkin leaves for extra iron.
