TRAINING FOR SURGERY
Surgery is tough on the body. Even minor procedures carry the risk of complications such as shock or infection. Besides choosing an experienced surgeon, recent research suggests that training for surgery may be the best way to avoid these issues and recover faster. “You wouldn’t run a race without preparing,” says Michael Englesbe, MD, a transplant surgeon who started a preoperative program at the University of Michigan. “An operation is as physiologically hard” as running a 5K, he explains.
The program, which includes about an hour a day of walking, helped reduce the length of hospital stays by 31 percent. Similar programs add other therapies. Together, they offer tips for starting your own regimen two to six weeks before surgery: 1 Read up on your procedure to help mentally prepare for what recovery will be like. 2 Learn relaxation techniques such as prayer or meditation to cope with any pain, stress, or depression you might have. 3 Breathe in through your nose deeply, hold for five to ten seconds, then let your breath out slowly through your mouth. Do this several times a day to prevent respiratory issues such as a partial lung collapse. If you smoke, quit before surgery, even if it’s only for a few weeks. 4 If you’re not exercising daily, walk at least a few minutes every day. 5 Being dehydrated or malnourished increases the chance of delirium. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritiously.
New Blood Test for Melanoma
Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, responsible for more than 7,200 deaths each year. Early diagnosis is key to improving survival rates, but too many people fail to check their skin on a regular basis or have a doctor do so. Now researchers have developed a blood test to detect melanoma in its early stages. In a study of 245 people, the new test identified those with melanoma with 79 percent accuracy and those without the cancer with 84 percent accuracy. Multiple groups worldwide are working to develop blood tests that can detect a range of cancers. If and when the melanoma test is approved for use, it would be one of the first and could eliminate the need for a dermatologist visit to diagnose the disease.