If you’re lying awake at night wondering whether your health condition, your medications, or something in your medical history makes anesthesia too risky, you’re not alone. As a CRNA with 20 years of experience, I hear this question almost every week...

There are four main types of anesthesia—local, regional, sedation, and general—each with its own purpose and approach. My goal is to walk you through these different types, explain how they work, and also to reassure you about their safety, so you can be as prepared as possible for your upcoming procedure.