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Fit individuals withstand surgery better. They are also less likely to require surgery for hip, spine and knee problems.
To attain this:
Walk briskly for an hour a day every day
Do flexion and core strengthening exercises
Maintain ideal body weight |
Almost all of us will have to undergo some sort of surgical procedure at some point in our lives. Most of us (even doctors) are scared of surgery and face it with trepidation. Surgery is unavoidable in cases of severe trauma caused by an accident, acute appendicitis, badly broken bones, acute abdominal emergency and Caesarean sections.
Many cases are not life threatening, and the surgery can be postponed to a time and date convenient to the surgeon, the patient and family members. This respite can be effectively utilised to seek a second opinion (preferably from a teaching institution) to see if the surgery really is essential. Also, a physician can be consulted to see if medical treatment is a viable option.
Procedures like hip and knee replacement, spinal surgery for back problems and hysterectomy have become common. Before going under the knife, check if a combination of weight loss, physiotherapy, medication or hormonal treatment can do away with the need for surgery. Bypass surgery for blocked heart arteries has become commonplace. Today, interventional cardiologists can clear many of these blocks and place stents (angioplasty) at less expense.
Earlier, all surgeries meant that patients were opened up and required prolonged hospitalisation to deal with the extreme pain and to heal properly — post operative complications led to deaths, too. Nowadays, many surgeries can be done through “minimally invasive” techniques. Laparoscopy is one such procedure where doctors insert two tubes through small openings. One of the tubes has a small camera which projects the view of the area on screens inside the operation theatre. That helps doctors manoeuvre the tiny scalpel in the other tube. Many surgeons specialise in laparoscopic surgery. Blood loss in such surgeries is minimal and hospital stay is very much reduced. Laser cutting knives and robotic extensions have made surgeons more efficient and reduced patient suffering.
If you need an “elective” surgery as opposed to an “emergency” procedure, you can usually delay it for a month or two while you prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally. Postponing it any longer may be counter productive as the disease may progress. If you are a fit 70 something, opting for a knee or hip replacement may make the rest of your life pain free. (Now that life expectancy has increased). If you delay the surgery for too long, you may become incapacitated, medically unfit or complications may set in. Pain and immobility may make your life difficult and you may become a burden to your caregivers.
While you wait for surgery, control blood sugar and improve nutrition and exercise to better your muscles, heart and lungs. All this will speed up healing. If you are a smoker, tell your surgeon and try to quit at last two weeks before the procedure. Smokers take longer to recover from anaesthesia, require more time on the ventilator, wound healing is delayed and scar tissue is more likely to form. Regular alcohol consumption results in relative resistance to anaesthesia and higher doses of sedation and painkillers may be required.
All allergies and intolerance to medication should be documented and the surgeon and anaesthetist informed. A list of medication for other illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma or heart disease should be prepared and handed over. Herbal, ayurvedhic or homeopathic medication should be discontinued five to seven days before surgery. Even if they are taken for general health or an unrelated condition and classified as “harmless”, they can interfere with blood clotting and medication for sedation.
Anxiety about the surgery, fear of anaesthesia, thoughts about death may cause insomnia, hypertension and palpitations in the days prior to surgery. Surgery is now a safe procedure and techniques are very advanced. If reassurances do not alleviate anxiety, yoga and meditation may help.
Alternative medicines or massages do not serve as a substitute for surgery once it has been fixed and deemed to be essential. They can only help the body cope, but do not serve as a substitute.
Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in
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