Depression Strongly Influences Surgical Recovery and Healing Outcomes

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 1 December 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Depression affects how your body heals after surgery by increasing inflammation and weakening your immune defenses, which lead to longer recovery times and higher complication rates
Older adults with cancer who also have depression experience significantly higher post-surgical costs — nearly $25,000 compared to about $17,500 for patients without depression — showing that untreated mental health directly impacts both recovery and finances
In patients undergoing spine surgery, depression nearly doubled the risk of delirium and tripled the likelihood of blood clots or infections, underscoring how mood disorders influence physical outcomes
Depression triggers systemic inflammation and disrupts hormonal balance, particularly through chronically high cortisol levels, which slow wound healing and increase blood pressure — key drivers of poor recovery
Addressing depression before surgery — through dietary changes, gut support, regular movement, sunlight exposure, and consistent rest — helps restore your body's energy systems, reduces inflammation, and supports faster, more complete healing

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have you considered that your emotional state before surgery could determine how quickly you heal,
0:05.2	how many complications you face, and even how much you pay afterward?
0:09.8	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen
0:14.5	summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go. No reading required.
0:18.8	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health
0:22.0	insights. Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster. Today we're
0:29.3	examining how depression strongly influences surgical recovery and healing outcomes. You'll hear what
0:35.3	recent research shows about complication risks, hospital readmissions,
0:39.5	and costs, and the concrete steps you can take to strengthen your mind and body before an
0:44.2	operation. I'm Alara Sky. Depression isn't just a mood issue. It affects how you generate energy
0:50.9	at a cellular level. When you feel fatigued, foggy, and unmotivated,
0:55.9	it often reflects that your cells aren't producing enough energy. That deficit weakens
1:00.6	immune defenses, heightens inflammation, and slows repair. The result is longer recoveries,
1:06.9	more infections, and higher bills after surgery.
1:09.7	A large study of older adults with colorectal, hepatabiliary, and pancreatic cancers
1:15.9	underscored the stakes. Among 32,726 patients, those with depression experienced tougher
1:23.1	recoveries, higher complication rates, and worse survival. Costs told the story too.
1:29.3	Patients without depression averaged about $17,551.
1:34.3	Those treated for depression average roughly $22,086,
1:38.3	and untreated depression reached about $24,897,
1:43.3	showing that unaddressed mental health drives both poorer outcomes
1:47.1	and higher expenses.
	...

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