Next comes the excitement phase, though the name is misleading—it’s far from enjoyable. Fortunately, you won’t remember any of it because it happens after the anesthesia has already started to take effect.

During this phase, your breathing and heart rate may become irregular, your body might twitch involuntarily, and you could even experience nausea or vomiting.

The third phase is called surgical anesthesia, and it’s the state in which around 60,000 patients find themselves every single day.

In this phase, you are fully unconscious, and your body enters a temporary, controlled coma.

At this point, the anesthesia has taken full control, essentially shutting down your nervous system.

This shutdown slows your body’s responses to external stimuli and deactivates the part of your brain responsible for processing pain. Your heart rate stabilizes, and you’ll have no memory of what happens while you’re under.

Your brain activity quiets down so much that it can no longer send signals to the rest of your body.

Under normal circumstances, these signals are constantly traveling back and forth. But during this quiet state, the lack of connection allows you to remain completely unaware of the medical procedures taking place.

Anesthesia doesn’t just affect your brain—it also impacts your spinal cord. Once the anesthetic travels through your bloodstream and reaches your spine, it induces complete paralysis.

While the idea of being paralyzed might sound unsettling, rest assured, you won’t feel or remember a thing.

One of the most fascinating aspects of anesthesia is that, despite its widespread use, doctors still don’t fully understand how it works. It can render us unconscious, calm, and unable to remember pain that our body should otherwise detect.

While medical professionals know which parts of the body are affected, the exact why behind these effects remains a mystery. However, there are a few leading theories.

The first theory focuses on brain fat. It suggests that anesthesia dissolves fat within brain cells, causing changes in brain activity. These alterations are thought to be responsible for the unconscious and pain-free state experienced under general anesthesia.

The second theory builds on similar principles. It proposes that anesthesia binds to and disables certain proteins on neurons in the brain.

Even though your brain slows down significantly under anesthesia, it still maintains enough function to keep your lungs operating. However, an oxygen mask is often used to ensure your lungs receive adequate oxygen. In some cases, a tube may also be placed down your throat to deliver oxygen directly.

Throughout your operation, a nurse or anesthesiologist carefully monitors your vital signs and overall condition. Because anesthesia alters your body’s natural functions, certain complications—like vomiting, fluid entering the lungs, or even a stroke—can occur.

Thankfully, these events are rare, and constant monitoring ensures quick intervention if anything goes wrong.

As the anesthesia begins to wear off, your brain gradually starts to “reboot.” This awakening doesn’t happen all at once; instead, your brain slowly pieces itself back together, re-establishing its normal functions.

Upon waking, it’s common to feel confused and experience temporary memory loss. You might also have limited control over your motor functions, which can understandably cause feelings of agitation or distress.

Fortunately, these effects typically fade within a few hours as your brain and body fully recover.

Anesthesia often causes a drop in blood pressure. Anesthesiologists carefully monitor and manage this to ensure it stays within safe limits throughout the procedure.

Anesthetics can also suppress your respiratory system, leading to slower breathing rates. This is why mechanical ventilation is sometimes required during surgery to maintain proper oxygen levels.

Additionally, anesthesia can disrupt your body’s ability to regulate temperature, often causing a slight drop in body heat. This is why patients are often covered with warming blankets during and after surgery.

After surgery, patients often experience dryness in the mouth or throat. This is typically caused by the effects of anesthesia and breathing through tubes during the procedure.

Some patients may develop itching or skin rashes as a reaction to certain anesthetic medications. These side effects are usually mild and temporary.

Muscle aches, especially in the back or neck, are common after surgery. These can result from lying in one position for an extended period or as a side effect of muscle relaxants used during anesthesia.

Temporary changes in vision or eye irritation can occur after anesthesia. This is often due to reduced tear production while unconscious, leaving the eyes dry and sensitive.

Dizziness or faintness is a common sensation upon waking from anesthesia. These effects occur as the body gradually adjusts to normal consciousness and circulation patterns.

Anesthesia can sometimes cause fluctuations in heart rhythm. These changes are closely monitored throughout surgery to ensure they remain within safe limits.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting are frequent side effects, especially with certain types of anesthesia or specific surgical procedures.

After certain surgeries or types of anesthesia, patients may experience difficulty urinating or urinary retention. In such cases, temporary catheterization might be necessary.

Intubation, often required during general anesthesia, can lead to a sore throat post-surgery. This irritation results from the tube rubbing against the throat lining.

Confusion or disorientation is a common experience immediately after waking from anesthesia. Fortunately, these symptoms typically resolve quickly as the brain reorients itself.

Some patients report hallucinations or vivid dreams while waking from anesthesia. These experiences, though rare, are usually brief and harmless.

Anesthesia can temporarily affect the central nervous system, leading to mood swings or emotional sensitivity after surgery. These effects typically fade as the anesthetic fully leaves the body.

It’s common for patients to feel extremely drowsy or excessively sleepy for several hours after anesthesia. This happens as the body gradually recovers from the medication’s effects.

The site where the anesthetic was injected might become swollen or inflamed. Fortunately, this reaction is usually mild and resolves on its own.

Although rare, some patients may have allergic reactions to certain anesthetic agents. These reactions can range from mild irritation to severe responses requiring immediate medical attention.

During surgery, there’s a risk of stomach contents entering the lungs, a condition known as aspiration. This is why fasting before surgery is so crucial—it minimizes this risk.

Older adults are more prone to experiencing postoperative delirium after anesthesia. This condition is marked by confusion, disorientation, and memory issues, and it can last for several days.

Some patients may experience temporary difficulties with concentration or memory after anesthesia. These cognitive effects usually resolve within a short period.

Anesthesia can disrupt normal saliva production, sometimes leading to increased drooling or saliva accumulation during and after surgery.

In extremely rare cases, a phenomenon known as anesthesia awareness can occur. This happens when a patient becomes conscious during surgery but remains unable to move or communicate.

Improper positioning during surgery can, in rare cases, result in temporary or permanent nerve damage. Careful positioning and monitoring are performed to minimize this risk.

Prolonged immobility during and after surgery can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs. This is why early mobilization, compression devices, and sometimes blood-thinning medications are used to reduce this risk.