Blood tests are one of the most demanded tests to evaluate the general health of a person, since with them we can observe if there are alterations in some of the vital functions of the body. But when the doctor tells us that we will have to do a blood count and that we must go on an empty stomach there is a question that assails many people and makes them doubt: Can you drink water before a blood test ?
In the following FastlyHealarticle we explain how water affects blood tests, what you should do before an exam of this type and some recommendations to make it as comfortable as possible for you and the medical team.
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Drink water before a blood test
If you wonder if you can drink water before a blood test, you should know that it is. Yes you can drink water , yes, never in large quantities . If you eat foods, these will contain calories, nutrients or sugars that will vary the final results of the blood test, however, water does not have a very big impact as it does not have calories, sugars or fats.
Despite this, you should not drink a lot of water, as there is a risk of altering some aspects of the hemogram, such as the hemoglobin or red blood cell count. Thus, while the fast prior to the blood test lasts, you can drink to relieve dry mouth after going all night without drinking.
Consequences of not drinking water before a blood count
Not only is it not prohibited, but it depends on in which cases drinking a little water before a blood test may be advisable . On some occasions, if the patient is dehydrated, it is difficult to draw blood from the veins since the water causes a dilation in them, facilitating the location and puncture.
If you are dehydrated, as if you do not comply with the fast, you can see altered the results of the blood count , especially the triglyceride count. Drinking a little water before the test or drinking enough during the day before to compensate can prevent your results from showing misleadingly high triglyceride levels.
Recommendations before a blood test
In most cases, doctors give few indications and patients do not know what to do before a blood test. Here are some of the recommendations that you should follow :
- Blood tests are done on an empty stomach so that food does not alter their results, that is why they are normally done in the morning. The ideal time at which you should have dinner the day before is 9 o’clock and not take any food until after the test.
- If you take any medication, you should continue taking it unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Fasting should be between 8 and 12 hours so that blood glucose and lipid levels are not altered.
- If you are diabetic or take insulin you have to ask your doctor if you should continue the treatment.
- Don’t smoke before testing.
- On the day of the analysis, dress in cuffs and wide sleeves.
- If you tend to get dizzy, it is better that you notify it before the analysis begins so that they can take the appropriate measures.
- If you feel dizzy during the blood draw, notify the professionals.
- If you want to avoid bruising or bleeding, you should squeeze the punctured area with a cotton ball for 10 minutes.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can you drink water before a blood test? , we recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.