Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
Anesthesia
Home Care and Complications
What happens later at home?
General anesthesia and a major operation can cause stress on the body. No matter what anesthesia is used, most people feel that they are back to normal by the next day. For some people, it may take a few days.
What are the potential complications after the procedure?
The most feared complication of anesthesia is death. This occurs in roughly 1 out of every 10,000 people who have general, epidural, or spinal anesthesias. It is not usually possible to predict who will have this severe reaction.
Other problems can occur, including:
Other problems depend on the type of anesthesia used. For example:
Local and topical anesthesias are less likely to cause a problem. Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, and seizures have occurred with some anesthesias.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists recently issued a warning about the potential side effects and interactions of herbal remedies with medications used before, during, and after surgery. The group recommends that a person stop taking all herbs at least two weeks before planned surgery.