Although the aim of surgery is to improve your wellness, it can be a health concern all of it’s own. Patient safety is always the top priority for surgeons or physician anesthesiologists involved in medical care, but to ensure your procedure goes as well as it can, you also need to take steps to care for your wellbeing. Important actions such as exercising and eating right in the weeks and months before surgery can help make the procedure as safe as possible, decrease your chances of complications and help you get back on your feet faster.
Dr. Jane C.K. Fitch, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), notes, ‘Surgery is usually the solution to a problem, whether to replace a painful knee or repair a hernia, but there are always risks. Physician anesthesiologists, surgeons and other medical specialists work with patients before, during and after surgery to help ensure a successful outcome. Patients can take control of their own health by having critical conversations with their physicians and getting healthy before surgery.’ So how can you get yourself in shape for surgery? Here are some top tips from the ASA:
1. Eat healthy: According to the ASA, ‘Adjusting your diet to include healthier choices in the weeks leading up to your surgery can help you become stronger and recover quicker. If you have a loss of appetite or recently lost weight without trying, be sure to tell your doctor, who might suggest you see a registered dietician. The dietician may prescribe a nutritional supplement to boost your immune system, help prevent infections and shorten your stay in the hospital.’
2. Stop smoking: The ASA explains, ‘Among the many reasons to kick the habit is that smoking and anaesthesia – which you’ll need during surgery – don’t mix. If you smoke, your heart and lungs are compromised and don’t function at full capacity. You are also far more likely to suffer breathing and lung-related complications during surgery and are more likely to need a ventilator after surgery. By quitting smoking before surgery, you’ll not only decrease the likelihood of these risks, but you’re also less likely to have a wound infection, heart attack or other complication.’
3. Better Your Breathing: ‘Taking deep breaths on a spirometer – a simple device that helps you exercise your lungs and improve their function – is a routine activity after most surgeries,’ the ASA asserts. ‘Doing these exercises before surgery can help strengthen your lungs so you’re less likely to develop pneumonia.’
4. Control your blood sugar: The ASA warns, ‘People with diabetes whose blood sugar (glucose) is not controlled, are more likely to suffer potentially fatal complications following surgery. If you have diabetes, make sure your blood sugar is controlled. If you don’t, your immune system may be weaker, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections. Controlling your blood sugar will help you heal faster and you’ll likely spend less time recovering in the hospital.’
5. Get Active: ‘If you exercise, keep it up, and if you don’t, try to responsibly increase your activity level in the weeks before surgery,’ suggests the ASA. ‘The sooner you begin to move around after surgery, the less likely you are to develop blood clots and pneumonia. Consider getting into an exercise programme – it can reduce complications and shorten hospital stays.’
6. Drink Less Alcohol: The ASA cautions, ‘People who have more than two alcoholic drinks a day are more likely to suffer complications after surgery than light drinkers and those who drink heavily are more than twice as likely to suffer complications that can result in death. Heavy drinkers are also much more likely to get an infection after surgery, have difficulty breathing, and be admitted to the intensive care unit than non-drinkers.’