How long it takes you to recover from surgery depends on a variety of factors, including the type of surgery and your overall health and fitness level prior to the procedure. Whether yours was an intensive inpatient or simple outpatient procedure, there are many things you can do to hasten your recovery time. Here, the compassionate team at Island Hospital, the walk-in clinic and surgery center in Anacortes, WA, provides suggestions for helping you heal as quickly as possible.

Local Surgery Center Explains How to Heal Quickly After a Procedure

Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions

Avoid complications after your surgery by following your doctor’s instructions exactly. Stick to your list of approved foods, take all medications as directed for their full duration, and do not go back to work or engage in any strenuous activity until you are approved to do so. Many people do too much too soon after surgery and hamper their recovery. It is much easier to get back on your feet following a procedure if you follow all of your personalized guidelines, as they are designed to give your body enough time to rest and recuperate.

Enjoy a Healthy, Balanced Diet

Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Water and whole, organic foods give your body the fuel it needs to heal quickly and effectively. The right diet also provides your body with essential nourishment through a wide variety of nutrients. Refrain from eating anything processed, as such foods are low in nutritional value and high in detrimental substances such as trans fat, saturated fat, sugar, and white flour.

Increase Your Activity Level

Increase your activity level as your surgery center suggests. Physical therapy and moderate exercise are important parts of most recovery plans because they help mitigate or eliminate post-surgical complications such as deep vein thrombosis and anesthesia-related constipation. Physical therapy and low-impact exercises also promote healthy blood circulation so that your organs, muscles, and bones receive more oxygen and other nutrients, and subsequently heal more quickly.

The team at Island Hospital emphasizes that you should report any unusual post-surgery complications to your doctor as soon as possible to avoid lengthening your recovery. The Anacortes surgery center treats patients in Bayview, La Conner, Shelter Bay, and the surrounding areas, and is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Call (360) 299-1300 or visit the surgery center online for more information. Like the hospital on Facebook for the latest updates.