Having surgery can have a big impact on your health.
Your anesthesiologist plays an important role in preparing you for a smooth surgery.
Research has shown that they can do their best to help you if you tell them your health information before the surgery.
For example, they can select the best pain relief method for you based on your health condition.
Linda J. Mason, M.D., FASA, President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, suggests all patients should tell their anesthesiologist the following things:
You smoke a cigarette.
Smoking can lead to breathing problems during surgery and cause complications. It can also make you recover slowly.
Research has shown that smokers have higher risks of pneumonia, heart attack, and reduced blood flow.
Often your anesthesiologist may ask you to stop smoking two weeks before you do the surgery.
You use marijuana.
Marijuana has a sedative effect and may interact with anesthesia. This can strongly interfere with your surgery.
In addition, the habit may bring some health risks just like smoking cigarette.
You anesthesiologist may suggest you stop use marijuana products before the surgery or give you other advice.
You drink alcohol.
Alcohol drinking can influence the effect of anesthesia. The amount you drink may determine how much anesthesia you need.
Just like smoking, drinking alcohol may increase your risks of complications, especially if you have more than two alcoholic drinks a day.
You may need to stop drinking before your surgery.
You snore during sleep.
Snoring can bring many health risks, such as the high risk of sleep apnea, light and short sleep, the strain on heart, chronic headaches and obesity.
Researchers have found that if your snoring is caused by sleep apnea, you may have higher risks of side effects from anesthesia.
The sleep problem can also make it harder for you to regain consciousness after surgery.
You have had a stroke or a heat stroke.
These two conditions may raise the risk of having a severe and life-threatening reaction to anesthesia.
The reaction is called malignant hyperthermia. It can lead to muscle rigidity and a sudden high fever.
You have chronic health conditions
Chronic health condition like diabetes, heart disease, allergies, liver or kidney disease, asthma, high blood pressure, obesity, and seizures or other neurological disorders.
Having anesthesia may influence these conditions.
You have had a negative reaction to anesthesia.
If you have suffered from a bad reaction to anesthesia in the past, you should tell your anesthesiologist.
S/he may adjust your anesthesia to prevent the bad reaction from recurring.
You use medications or supplements.
Many medications and supplement may influence anesthesia or pain management effects.
Research has shown that some depression drugs can reduce the effects of some opioids.
Some blood pressure drugs may interact with anesthesia and need to be paused for a day or longer.
You also need to tell your anesthetist what dietary supplements you are using.
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