Healing is anything but a passive process. But facing the period of convalescence, for the necessary recovery of physical and mental fitness, is today a value of which we are often not fully aware. “There is a distorted vision of convalescence, often identified as absolute rest – explains Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, professor of internal medicine, member of the scientific committee, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma -. Today the concept has been revised from a of rehabilitation, first as a period of recovery of vital energy and then as a restoration of ordinary activities. But often, the value of rest as an integral part of the therapy is not perceived.” While today minimally invasive and precision surgery has also contributed to reducing hospital stays and therefore recovery times, each case, however, remains unique. After surgery, an illness or a physical trauma, you are still more fragile and immediately starting to do what you did before in order to quickly return to social life can lead to relapses.
“It is a gradual process and for many convalescence is a necessity – continues Antonelli Incalzi – For example, after pneumonia, flu or herpes zoster there is a strong increase in cardiovascular risk, especially in the first days after recovery, and it would be It is advisable to consider 4-5 days of rest.
However, those who have had heart failure and respiratory failure should begin a real planned recovery, resuming physical activity in increasing steps of activity and including exercises of the upper and lower limbs, in addition to breathing”. More generally, the indications are those of not exceeding and avoiding getting tired. “It is also important to focus on the recovery of mental activity because it has a motivational effect and prevents the depressive trait – continues Antonelli Incalzi -. Compared to 30-40 years ago, the average age of patients discharged today has increased. Even if some are in no hurry to return to work, it is always useful to respect one’s own time, avoid stress, but above all not to let go and gradually start doing some activity also to avoid loss of muscle mass.”
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