General anesthesia is one of the medical advances that has brought the most safety to modern surgery. Although for the patient everything happens in a matter of seconds, behind that “deep sleep” there is a complex, precise process carefully monitored by an anesthesiologist. Here are five surprising facts about what happens in your body when you’re under anesthesia.

1. You lose consciousness in just seconds

The onset of anesthesia is called induction, and it usually happens in less than 30 seconds. This is achieved thanks to a combination of medications, not just one.
They are usually given:

• An opioid that stabilizes blood pressure and heart rhythm.
• An inducer, usually propofol, which is responsible for causing you to lose consciousness quickly.
• A neuromuscular blocker, which prevents your muscles from moving during the procedure.

Although some people believe that they can “resist” falling asleep, the reality is that these medications work without the possibility of preventing it.

2. Your breathing becomes assisted

Once asleep, your body no longer breathes normally. For this reason, the anesthesiologist places:

• An endotracheal tube, or
• A laryngeal mask,

that connects to a fan. This device is responsible for moving air in and out of your lungs.

Unlike severe cases during the pandemic, where patients were already in critical condition, intubation in surgery is a controlled, temporary, and safe procedure. When the operation is finished, the tube is removed and most people don’t even remember having it.

3. You also get local anesthesia even if you’re asleep

Strangely enough, while you’re under general anesthesia, your surgical team usually applies local anesthesia to the incision area. This is part of a strategy called multimodal anesthesia, which seeks to attack pain from different fronts to:

• Reduce opioid use,
• Decrease side effects,
• To get you to wake up with much less pain.

It’s like creating a pain-relieving “shield” in several layers.

4. Every function of your body is monitored in real time

The anesthesiologist doesn’t just put you to sleep; Stay by your side throughout the surgery.
During the procedure, constants such as:

• Oxygen saturation,
• Blood pressure,
• Heart rate,
• Levels of CO₂ you inhale and exhale,
• Electrical activity in the brain, to make sure the anesthesia is at the right depth.

General anesthesia is a dynamic balance. The specialist continuously adjusts medications to keep you stable, safe and pain-free.

5. Waking up well is the most delicate part

Turning off consciousness is relatively simple, but waking up safely requires more experience.
Toward the end of surgery, the anesthesiologist:

• Stop certain medications,
• Wait for its effect to wear off,
• Or use specific drugs that reverse muscle blockage or sedative.

When you wake up, it’s normal to feel confused, dizzy, or disoriented. That’s why you move into a recovery room, where they continue to monitor your vital signs until you’re completely stable.

Tips and recommendations

• Follow all preoperative indications, especially those related to fasting and medications. This reduces risks.
• Talk to your anesthesiologist beforehand. You can ask him anything you want: all patients have the right to receive a clear explanation.
• Inform about allergies, chronic illnesses or medications you take, including supplements or natural remedies.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco days before the procedure; They improve your breathing capacity and reduce complications.
• Stay calm. Modern anesthesia is extremely safe and is supported by continuous monitoring and specialized equipment.

General anesthesia is a precise, controlled, and carefully monitored process. Although for the patient everything happens in an instant, there is a complex technical work behind the scenes whose main objective is to guarantee your safety and comfort during surgery.

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