Can reducing stress help speed surgery recovery?

The stress of surgery boosts inflammation that can slow recovery. Orthopedic surgeon Vonda Wright, MD, has tips to reduce stress and pain from surgery, bolster your immune system, and heal quickly.

Transcript

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Use all of your senses to imagine you're in a serene place, like a quiet mountaintop

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or a sandy beach. This helps give you a mental vacation. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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I'm Dr. Vonda Wright with some pre-operation advice that can help you stay calm through the surgery

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and speed through recovery. No matter what kind of surgery you're facing, simple relaxation techniques can boost

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your body's immune response and help you heal faster. In one study, prostate cancer patients

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who used deep breathing and guided imagery got big benefits. Their immune systems were more active

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compared to men who didn't practice relaxation. Surgery is stressful on the mind and body.

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Worry and pre-op anxiety can slow your immune system. Calming your system can counter these effects.

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To find your zen before surgery, practice these two tricks. First, try deep breathing.

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Inhale slowly through your nose so that your belly, not your chest, expands. Pause, then exhale slowly.

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Repeat this several times. Also try guided imagery. Use all of your senses to imagine

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you're in a serene place like a quiet mountaintop or a sandy beach. This helps give you a mental vacation.