For a successful surgery recovery, healthcare providers recommend these 8 tips to boost patient recovery.
Today we present 8 pre-surgery tips to boost patient recovery. For many of us, we believe that post-surgical recovery begins the moment we walk out of the operating room. But, in fact, experts say that what you do in the weeks leading up to your procedure can play an important role in helping you recover more.
The power of prehabilitation
To that end, many health care providers have begun incorporating prehabilitation therapies into their programs. Research suggests that prehabilitation (getting in shape and optimizing your fitness before surgery) can help adults, young adults and older adults prevent complications, reduce the time they have to stay in the hospital and determine whether they recover in a rehabilitation center or at home.
Therefore, to prepare you for a successful recovery from surgery, healthcare providers recommend these 8 tips:
8 pre-surgery tips to boost recovery
1. Drink clear liquids
Surgery patients can typically consume clear liquids up to two hours before their procedure, according to guidance from the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
Examples of clear liquids that are safe to consume two hours before surgery include water, clear tea, and fruit juices without pulp.
2. Get enough protein
Getting enough protein before surgery helps maintain your immunity, promotes wound healing, and helps maintain muscle mass. All of these can help you recover sooner.
3. Get enough fiber and engage in healthy practices
The combination of pain medications and reduced physical activity after surgery can often cause constipation. Hospitals usually no longer require patients to have a bowel movement before discharge. But they will be more comfortable and have a quicker recovery if they participate in activities (and practices) that promote bowel motility before and after surgery.
4. Eat plenty of plant-based foods.
In addition to providing dietary fiber, vegetables and fruits contain many healthful nutrients. Including compounds called phytochemicals that reduce the risk of inflammation. So says Anne VanBeber, a professor in the nutritional sciences department at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Such foods can also help you stay regular.
Healthy plant-based foods include:
Barley
Peppers
Blueberries
Blackberries
Citrus fruits
Mangoes
Walnuts
Oats
Strawberries
6. Avoid sugary foods
Sugar is empty calories. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to insulin resistance or high blood glucose levels, which are associated with diabetes. High blood glucose levels reduce healing and promote infection.
7. Quit smoking
People who smoke just before surgery are much more likely to develop a surgical site infection (at the incision site) than non-smokers, research suggests.
Smoking decreases the body's blood flow, which can lead to complications such as:
Death
Heart attack
Shock
Stroke
8. Reach a healthy weight
Having a healthy weight increases the chances of avoiding postoperative complications. Research suggests that patients do better overall when they are at a healthy weight, according to a meta-analysis published in Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery in 2018.
"In general, obesity prolongs the time to surgery," the researchers wrote. A body mass index of 30 or higher is considered in the obese range, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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