One of the common myths about wound healing is that recovery or mending when you’re an adult takes as little time as it did when you were younger. Things like nutrition, type of incision, and more impact how quickly your body recovers after surgery.
Chronic wounds take over 30 days to heal, such as foot ulcers or pressure injuries, and issues that stem from diabetes, immobility, and so on. Bed sores, or pressure injuries, are common among older adults in long-term care settings, and chronic wounds might cause extra issues and need more treatment. On the other hand, an acute wound can be a burn or any surgery-related injury, it arises immediately rather than gradually and heals at the regular wound healing pace, which is expected and predictable.
Bear in mind that there are stages of healing, like the following two:
Inflammation. This is the immediate effect of surgery. Much like firefighters racing to a burning building to extinguish the flames, specialized cells rush to the cut site to minimize cell damage and stop the bleeding.
Cell proliferation. A week later, your body “clears out the debris”, collagen starts to work so new skin can form, and the wound begins to close.
It helps to consume many calories and nutrients to help your body do its job quicker. Otherwise, the healing process can become stalled. However, you might feel a lower ability to tolerate foods and have a loss of appetite. Still, since you’re aware of the importance of proper nutrition, you’ll hopefully make the right decisions and get back on your feet asap. Keep reading to be informed on what you can do to recover as properly and quickly as you can.
Eat the proper food
Eat extra protein when in recovery because it assists in tissue remodelling, collagen production and skin structure. Meat, and beef especially, is high in protein and promotes muscle growth and mass. Beef contains vitamins B6 and B12, niacin, riboflavin, and iron. All animal meats and soy foods like tempeh, nut butter, eggs, beans etc., are high in protein.
Animal organs are excellent protein sources, too. They’re high in B vitamins and abound in minerals like zinc, magnesium, iron and selenium, as well as fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins E and D.
Here are other foods you should feed your body after surgery:
Fortified food. Eating fortified meals can increase folate and A and C consumption. Thanks to their nutrients, some people, such as nursing or pregnant mothers, elders and children, can benefit significantly from fortified cereals.
Nuts. These can lower the risk of blood pressure or early death due to heart disease, reduce inflammation related to heart disease, improve artery health if you’re mobilised after the surgery, and lower the risk of blood clots.
Spinach. Like dark, leafy greens, spinach also improves skin conditions and blood glucose control while abounding in minerals, protein and vitamins.
Poultry. This is an excellent source of vitamin B12 and more: essential fatty acids, iodine, zinc and iron. Fish and poultry are the healthiest animal proteins to include in your diet after operation.
Seafood. Albacore tuna, sardines, salmon, oyster, and more seafood contain healthy fatty acids, full of essential nutrients like A and B, which maintain your immune system.
Don’t be stingy with yourself
The expensive treatments, medical visits, etc. might make you neglect the importance of healthy nutrition after surgery. To eat the proper food isn’t a piece of cake when you’re ill:
- You might feel like prepping meals is a burden because you feel powerless and worried and have negative feelings that sometimes come with health issues.
- You lack the appetite to ensure you feed your body the proper intake of vitamins and nutrients.
- The healthiest food can be overpriced and exceed your budget.
Sometimes people tend to panic after an accident and blame the mishap on themselves, forgetting to see the bigger picture and finding the guilty person. For example, employees could make a claim if something harmful happens to them during the shift. In the hospital, too, people can be the victim of malpractice and suffer from poor treatment.
If these ever happen to you or your dear ones, seek the truth. If you think you’re the victim of the national healthcare system (because yes, you can be), remember you can take advantage of a No Win No Fee claim. The NHS can break their duty of care, so if you receive an incorrect diagnosis, suffer from medical negligence, etc., and you have proof it’s someone else’s fault, you might be eligible to sue the institution and receive compensation to cover the recovery expenses.
Medical institutions can sometimes fail. For example, 42 foreign objects were retained following the operations in the UK in 2020, and 69 wrong-site surgeries occurred. Hopefully, you won’t get through such misfortune. But if you do, don’t forget what you have to do.
Give your body the necessary supplements
Glutamine and arginine are essential amino acids your body needs during times of trauma. Arginine enhances cell growth, increases collagen and protein production, promotes blood flow and strengthens your immune system. Glutamine also boosts immunity and collagen production, and these two simple organic compounds work together to contribute to vital repair and rebuilding.
Other supplements your body needs for effective recovery are the following:
Hydrolysed collagen. This contributes to your body’s collagen synthesis and supports the development of internal collagen at the incision site.
Hydroxy-methyl butyrate. This metabolite of amino acid leucine promotes protein synthesis and slows muscle breakdown.
Vitamin E and C. These antioxidants manage cell damage and help you maintain your skin clear. Vitamin C promotes collagen strength, and vitamin E aids in cell stabilization.
Vitamin B12. This vitamin raises red blood cell and haemoglobin levels, allowing the body to get oxygen efficiently.
Zinc. This helps in protein synthesis and DNA, skin integrity and immunological function.
Conclusion
To ensure proper injury healing, you need to pay particular attention to proper cleaning and your nutrition. Ensure that after surgery, you do the following tasks:
- Have iron-rich meals
- Include healthy fats in the diet
- Feed your body with enough protein.