Are you in shape for surgery?
Fitter patients who are able to improve their health and activity levels, recover from surgery more quickly. Click below to see how you can start today to make a real difference to your recovery and long-term health.
Weight
Many of the risks of having an operation are increased if you are very overweight. There are a number of changes you can make yourself now, which can improve your health ahead of surgery and beyond.
An ideal BMI is between 18.5-24.9kg/m2.
You can calculate your BMI using the NHS calculator here.
If your BMI falls above the normal range, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the risks for surgery including:
- Losing weight
- Exercise (including walking and using the stairs instead of lifts)
- Stopping smoking
- Controlling your sugars if you are diabetic
Exercise and keeping active
Your heart and lungs have to work harder after an operation to help the body to heal. If you are already active, they will be used to this. While you are waiting for your operation, try and increase your activity levels.
Brisk walking, swimming, cycling, gardening or playing with your children are all helpful. Try to do any activity which makes you feel out of breath at least three times per week. Activities that improve your strength and balance will also be useful for your recovery.
Apps to support you in being active:
EXi
The EXi app creates a 12-week exercise plan based on health information entered by the user. It then sets the duration and intensity of the exercise based on this information. This helps improve your overall health, but can also be used to manage a number of long-term health conditions and help those at risk of developing them become more active.
Couch to 5K
A running programme for absolute beginners. Couch to 5K has now helped more than 4 million people start running.
Active 10
The Active 10 app records every minute of walking you do (anonymously). Just pop your phone in your pocket and away you go!
Alcohol
Reducing your alcohol intake prior to surgery is advised. Alcohol can have many effects on the body. Importantly it can make the liver less capable of making the building blocks your body needs for healing.
The current NHS recommendations are that men and women should not drink more than 14 units per week (14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine).
Alcohol Support:
- Together Drug & Alcohol Service, Devon – 0800 233 5444
- Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service, Torquay – 01803 604330
- Harbour Drug & alcohol services, Plymouth – 01752 434343
- NHS: Tips on cutting down
- OneSmallStep: Drink Less – 01392 908 139
- Download the Drink Free Days app
One simple way to cut down is to have at least a few drink-free days every week, so choose yours and get practical support to stick with it.
Smoking
Smoking has many negative effects on the body and can cause complications after surgery. You are more likely to have a straightforward recovery from surgery if you stop smoking beforehand. This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen being delivered to the tissues. Oxygen is vital for the healing process. You are also less likely to develop chest and circulatory problems post operatively. Your body will feel the benefits 24 hours after stopping smoking. However, the earlier you stop the more your body will have recovered from the effects of smoking at the time of surgery.
Smoking support:
- Stop For Life Devon
A Specialist Stop Smoking Service to support people living across Devon to stop smoking or cut down to quit. A specialist team of coaches will be operating across the county working in communities and workplaces supporting people in person/in groups and working virtually (video calls/calls) – all based on what clients want and need. NRT and E-cigs will be provided to clients to help them on their quit/cut down to quit journey with our service.- Freephone number (clients): 0800 122 3866
- Partners/stakeholders telephone number: 01392 908 139
- Service website: stopforlifedevon.org
- NHS email for all email referrals: stopforlife.devon@nhs.net
- Stop smoking and wider health and wellbeing app/web based platform: www.best-you.org
- Freephone number (clients): 0800 122 3866
- OneYouPlymouth, Plymouth – 01752 437 177
- Your Health Torbay – 01803 422 422
- OneSmallStep, Devon – 0800 298 2654
- NHS Smoking Helpline – 0800 169 0169
- NHS: Quit Smoking
- Download the NHS Smokefree App
Anxiety and Mental health
It is normal to be anxious about having surgery. Relaxation, mindfulness and breathing exercises can all help.
Visit our supporting my mental health page for more information.
Health conditions
Diabetes
Poorly controlled Diabetes can affect your surgical recovery due to complications and delayed wound healing in particular. If your blood sugar and or longer-term marker of diabetic control (HBA1C) is very elevated your surgery date may be delayed. It is therefore exceptionally important to control your blood sugar levels as early as possible leading up to your operation.
Good control of your blood sugar is important to reduce your risk of infections after surgery.
Blood pressure
Should be controlled to safe levels to reduce your risk of stroke. Operations may be delayed if blood pressure is too high
Visit our high blood pressure page for details on how to take your own blood pressure at home.
Anaemia
Anaemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells in your body, or the blood cells do not have enough haemoglobin to carry oxygen to your tissues (caused by iron deficiency).
Anaemia, if left untreated, may mean that the hospital has to delay your surgery. If surgery goes ahead and you lose blood, you may need a blood transfusion. Having a blood transfusion may make your recovery much slower.
The good news is that anaemia is easily treatable, and the sooner you find out if you are anaemic the sooner you can start treatments to help.