Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Pre-operative anxiety remains a significant clinical concern affecting surgical outcomes, recovery time, and overall patient satisfaction. Psychological distress before surgery is associated with increased anaesthetic requirements, elevated post-operative pain, delayed wound healing, and prolonged hospital stays. Deep breathing exercises, a simple, non-pharmacological relaxation technique, have shown potential in reducing physiological arousal by modulating autonomic nervous system responses. This research investigates the impact of deep breathing exercises on pre-operative anxiety levels among surgical patients, with the aim of determining whether a brief, structured breathing intervention can produce measurable reductions in anxiety prior to surgery. The research integrates evidence from behavioural medicine, anaesthesiology, and complementary therapy literature to understand how controlled breathing regulates heart rate variability, cortisol secretion, and perceived stress. It is hypothesized that patients who practice deep breathing exercises immediately before surgery will demonstrate significantly lower anxiety scores compared to those receiving standard pre-operative care. The findings may offer a low-cost, safe, and effective adjunct to routine surgical preparation protocols.