Preoperative Anxiety Is More Than Just Nerves
Stress before surgery often goes unseen. But its impact? Anything but invisible.
Nearly half of preoperative patients feel significant anxiety ahead of major procedures, according to researchers. That worry doesn’t just stay in the mind. It travels through the body, raising blood pressure, increasing the need for anesthesia, slowing down recovery, and sometimes leading to serious complications.
For hospitals and VA systems, this means one thing: Mental prep is no longer optional.
Helping patients feel calm before surgery isn’t just about comfort. It’s about better outcomes, shorter stays, and safer recoveries. That’s why more clinical teams are searching for new ways to ease pre-op anxiety, giving patients the mental tools they need before the scalpel ever touches skin.
What the Latest Research Says About Healium and Surgery Prep
New findings from Mayo Clinic researchers and cardiac surgeons reveal that Healium isn’t just a promising concept. It’s working right now, in real operating environments. In a recent study, patients facing their first open-heart surgery used experiences powered by Healium before heading into the OR.
The results?
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Patients reported lower anxiety levels before surgery.
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VR was well tolerated, even by older patients who often get overlooked in tech-driven interventions.
Dr. Jordan Miller, a cardiovascular researcher at Mayo Clinic, summed it up simply:
“This is an exciting step forward in optimizing patients for surgery.”
This wasn’t tested on hypothetical models or healthy volunteers. It happened in the same high-stakes surgical settings that hospitals and VA systems navigate every day. Healium’s immersive, biofeedback-driven experiences are a practical, research-backed way to help patients walk into surgery calmer, and walk out on a smoother path to recovery.
How Healium Supports Pre-Surgical Calm
Healium stands apart by blending science, immersive storytelling, and neurofeedback into one seamless tool for easing preoperative stress.
Inside a hospital, every beep, bright light, and sterilized surface can ramp up a patient’s anxiety. Healium creates calming, nature-based environments that pull attention away from the surgical setting.
This shift isn’t just psychological, it’s deeply physiological.
Healium combines breathwork, guided visualizations, and real-time biofeedback to help regulate the nervous system. By lowering heart rate variability and promoting parasympathetic activity, patients can reach a calmer state in minutes without pharmaceuticals.
Used in real clinical settings
Hospitals and VA systems are already using Healium with patients preparing for surgery. It’s designed to integrate smoothly with existing clinical workflows, helping patients feel centered and secure before they enter the operating room.
Closes the loop with wearables
Healium pairs with devices like Apple Watch and EEG headbands, turning biometric data into visual feedback. Patients see their internal state change, reinforcing calm in a way traditional pre-op protocols can’t.
Built for high-stress environments
Healium is simple to deploy. No prescriptions, no extra staffing, no risk of sensory overload. Content is carefully crafted to be PTSD-aware, making it especially valuable in VA hospitals and trauma-focused surgical centers. For teams managing tight schedules and anxious patients, Healium becomes an easy win: a drug-free, tech-enabled moment of calm right when it matters most.
A Calmer Mind Before Surgery. A Better Outcome After.
Helping patients feel at ease before surgery isn’t just a comfort measure; it's a vital part of the process. Reducing pre-op stress can mean fewer complications, faster recoveries, and less reliance on post-op medications.
Hospitals and VA systems are already rethinking what it means to prepare patients for surgery. Mental readiness is becoming just as important as physical prep. By giving patients effective ways to manage anxiety, teams create safer procedures and stronger outcomes.
Healium is a low-lift option for staff, requiring no prescriptions, and provides patients with a clear, drug-free path to calm when it matters most.
