Feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery is nothing to be ashamed about. Not only is it natural to experience some level of anxiety about a medical procedure, it’s also very common. In fact, one report showed that 60-90% of people experience significant anxiety before an operation.
Thankfully, you don’t have to grin and bear those feelings or manage them on your own.
At the practice of Ali Hendi, MD, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Dr. Hendi and our team of skin cancer experts provide practices and techniques that can help ease your nerves and improve your procedure’s outcome.
Take a few moments to learn just how we can help.
When it comes to surgery, there are many things people can feel anxious about. It could stem from things they’ve heard or read or are unsure about. Common things people can be anxious about include the following:
Once anxiety sets in, you might notice that you’re more physically tense than usual. Your heart rate and blood pressure may even increase.
If you have surgical anxiety, it’s crucial that you let us know. Because when you do, we can address your concerns and help alleviate your fears.
If you don’t let us know, this could increase your risk of canceling or delaying your treatment, which could harm your health. For example, if you put off having an abnormal mole removed due to anxiety, precancerous cells could turn into skin cancer while you wait.
Furthermore, having high levels of anxiety can increase the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Having elevated levels of this hormone in your body for too long can fuel a range of health problems and even make recovering from surgery more difficult.
At our office, Dr. Hendi and our team help patients understand breathing and mindfulness techniques in an effort to reduce anxiety and stress. Leading up to your procedure, your provider will teach you mindfulness exercises to perform on your own.
You may learn how to breathe deeply and properly, from your diaphragm, for example. You may also receive guided meditation materials to make your mindfulness sessions a breeze.
These techniques can lead to:
One study showed that mindful deep breathing can improve heart rate and reduce feelings of depression.
Furthermore, because breathing and meditation techniques may help you sleep better, this, in turn, may help improve your mood. And this is good news, because anxiety and sleep loss are closely linked. And, this can also help in reverse. Better moods can mean better sleep.
To learn more about surgical anxiety or to get the compassionate care you need, call 301-812-4591 or book an appointment online with the practice of Ali Hendi, MD, today.
