Marley's Health Advice
About Me
Marley's Health Advice

Hey! My name is Marley and this is my health advice blog. Maintaining your health is easy when you are young. However, as you get older, you may develop illnesses and disorders as a result of your lifestyle choices. When I hit the age of 50 years old, I suddenly realised that I had a lot of problems which I had been ignoring for a long time. I decided to visit my doctor and seek help. Over the past year, I have worked closely with my doctor to improve my lifestyle and my health. I hope my blog inspires you to do the same.

Marley's Health Advice

Recovering from vascular surgery

Grace Henderson

Every day, people undergo vascular surgery to treat a range of conditions affecting their veins, from aneurysms to atherosclerosis. If you're about to experience vascular surgery you may be wondering what steps you can take to ensure you get back to full health as soon as possible.

While of course it's essential to follow the advice of your vascular surgeon and other members of your medical team, the person most responsible for guiding your recovery is you.

Here's your guide to a quick recovery.

  1. First, rest. You will need to take some time to recover from your surgery. The time you'll need to set aside varies widely and depends on the procedure you have and any other health problems you are facing. Ensure you take any medication you are prescribed and give yourself the time you need to start to feel better in those first few weeks post-surgery.

  2. Get active! The secret to a rapid recovery lies in getting back to your usual daily activities as quickly as possible. There's no need to jump in feet first. Instead, listen to your body and steadily build your level of activity and range of movement.

  3. Review your medication. Make sure to consult your medical team about your ongoing medication needs. If you took medication before your surgery your doctor will probably recommend you continue, but be on the lookout for changes in dosage. If your surgery includes vascular reconstruction to mend a blocked artery or vein, particularly if you have a stent placed, your vascular surgeon may recommend medication to thin your blood. Complying with these directions will not only speed your recovery, but will minimise the risks of future narrowing of your arteries or developing clotting inside the stent.

  4. Look to your lifestyle. Ensuring you have a speedy and successful recovery means taking stock of your lifestyle and making any changes you need to prevent further vascular problems. Some simple and highly effective changes include:

    • Stopping smoking. If you smoke, the most effective thing you can do to prevent a relapse is to quit. Try the free QuitBuddy app, or take a look at these great resources to make the move to a smoke-free life as smooth as easy as possible.

    • Eat well. Cutting back on fatty and salty foods will keep your blood pressure in check, reduce your risk of a host of medical conditions and, most importantly, help to keep your veins in great health.

    • Move it! Physical activity doesn't have to be gruelling, in fact a simple walk every day will speed up your recovery from surgery and keep you feeling great. Talk to your doctor about the best forms of exercise for you.

Vascular surgery is a serious life event, and one that will take some time to recover from. But with a great health care team and a simple strategy for recovery you'll be back on your feet in no time.

 


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