The power of prehab
Did you know that one out of every nine people in the U.S. reports undergoing at least one surgical procedure in the past year? Or that for folks receiving Medicare, that number hits one in five? Unfortunately, things don't always go smoothly.
A study in The BMJ identified adverse events in more than one-third of U.S. patients admitted to the hospital for surgery. On top of that, nearly half of those surgical/post-surgical-related problems were major -- and most were potentially preventable.
Luckily, you have some control over how you do after major elective surgery. A study in JAMA Surgery shows that when you get prehab that provides information on appropriate physical activity and nutrition (and you follow that advice), are offered cognition training, and practice mindfulness, you can protect yourself from surgery-related infections and post-surgical cognition problems. Just two weekly sessions of one-on-one remote coaching were found to alter a person's immune system, reduce inflammatory reactions, improve physical and cognitive functioning before surgery and decrease post-surgical complications. Management of stress, plus improved physical strength and better self-care are likely reasons for the benefits.
I've been advocating smart prehab, including pre-surgical walking, smoking cessation and blood pressure control, since I was co-chair of Cardiovascular Anesthesia at the University of California, San Francisco, in 1979. That can make your RealAge younger and increase your chance for a good outcome without complications. So, if you're headed for surgery, ask your doctor about available prehab programs and take charge of your future health and happiness with the info in my book, "The Great Age Reboot."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments