Tag: Anesthesia myths

Each year, millions of people in the United States undergo noncardiac surgery, with about one-third having existing cardiac disease or major risk factors [1.6.5]. A common fear is, **does your heart stop beating under general anesthesia?** The answer is no, your heart continues to beat throughout the procedure [1.2.3].

Despite what movies and television might portray, an anesthesiologist with 30 years of experience has never heard a patient reveal a single secret while under sedation. This widespread fear that twilight sedation makes you tell secrets is nothing more than a myth, with medical evidence showing the opposite effect is more likely.

With modern advances, the risk of dying from anesthesia is extremely low—approximately 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 cases for healthy individuals. This statistic powerfully counters the anxiety that leads many to ask, "Are you almost dead under anesthesia?", and highlights the remarkable safety of modern anesthesiology.