Introduction:
A blood test is an essential step in health analysis. A healthcare professional may suggest a blood test for various reasons. The values of blood cells, mineral content, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, etc., in the blood help, diagnose various medical conditions. In addition, blood work is useful to assess organ function, especially the liver and the kidneys. One can also check the medication or drug levels in the blood to evaluate the toxicity. Since the blood test remains an essential component in healthcare, there are several things to consider before taking a blood test.
How to Prepare for a Blood Test?
Before a blood test, one must prepare physically for better analysis. The below protocols should be followed.
Discuss With the Healthcare Provider:
A physician who orders the test will specify the parameters to be checked during blood analysis. So, it is always better to discuss and gather the instructions to be followed for the precise assessment of parameters.
- Blood sugar and cholesterol levels are checked on an empty stomach in the early morning, so the patient must be prepared accordingly. During the glucose tolerance test, a drink containing glucose must be consumed a few hours before the test.
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Certain tests require refraining from exercising for one day before collecting blood samples.
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One must inform the physician about their medication history, drug usage, alcohol consumption, or tobacco intake beforehand.
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Hormone tests are done on a specific day at a specific time. For example, progesterone is tested on a particular day of a woman's ovulation cycle.
Stay Hydrated:
Drinking enough water will increase the blood volume and keep the blood constituents under check for accurate results. In addition, more fluids in the vein will help to draw blood easily. It is suggested to have more fluids on the day before giving blood.
Minor Warm-Up:
A mild warm-up of the hands and legs will increase the blood circulation in the body. Hot fomentation of the area can make your veins eminent for easy blood withdrawal.
Reduce Stress:
Depending on the situation or condition for which a blood test has been ordered, patients may have anxiety about the blood collection or the test reports. Fear and stress can increase blood pressure and narrow down the vein, which makes it difficult to take blood samples. Stress reduction techniques like deep breathing, sipping water, positive self-assurance, hearing soft music, and mindfulness can be practiced a few hours before giving blood samples.
What Are the Activities to Be Avoided Before a Blood Test?
Certain activities may compromise the parameters in the blood test. They are,
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Heavy Physical Activity:
Heavy exercise will show changes in the glucose, red blood cells, white blood cells, lipids, and inflammatory marker levels in the blood. Hence it is advisable to refrain from heavy physical activity a few days before the bloodwork. Always inform the health care provider about the workout details before the blood test.
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Smoking:
Smoking and tobacco products can profusely affect blood test results. Generally, smoking is attributed to abnormal levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, the volume of blood, and hemoglobin. Studies have shown long-term effects of smoking on white blood cells and short-term effects on red blood cells.
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Alcohol:
The alcohol content in the blood will disturb the evaluation of lipids, sugars, liver function tests, and certain enzymes in the body. Patients should abstain from taking alcohol at least 24 hours before the blood has been drawn.
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Overeating:
Specific food pertaining to the blood test should be avoided for the recommended amount of days, and also, it is not advisable to overeat for a day before giving samples for a blood test. Some common tests like blood sugar, lipids, and calcitonin will require fasting.
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Medications and Supplements:
Over-the-counter medicines for pain, cold, and fever may adversely affect the blood test results. Health supplements and vitamins can affect the diagnosis of heart disease, endocrine disturbance, infection, cancer, and anemia. The physician may direct the patients to an alternative or modified testing methodology for proper detection.
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Herbal Tea:
The ingredients in the herbal tea will mess up with the blood test report. Certain herbs will mainly alter the sugar and fat level in the blood.
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Coffee or Caffeinated Drink:
Caffeine has a major effect on the heart and blood pressure. Caffeine is a diuretic and removes the water from the body. Dehydration shows a drastic change in the blood parameters due to electrolyte imbalance.
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Chewing Gums:
Chewing gums can speed up the digestive enzymes, and studies have shown that even sugar-free chewing gums will adversely affect many parameters in the blood.
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Native Medicines:
Just like conventional medicines, the properties of herbal native medicines have their effects on the body which will reflect in the blood samples.
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Masturbation:
After the ejaculation and orgasm during masturbation, there are certain biochemical changes in the blood that may affect the blood work.
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Sexual Activity:
Sexual activity and masturbation must be avoided for at least 48 hours before a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test because ejaculation can increase the PSA levels temporarily and may influence the exact results.
How to Communicate With the Phlebotomist?
Phlebotomy is a process of vein puncturing and drawing blood from the vein or inducing fluids into the vein. A phlebotomist will assist the laboratory technicians, doctors, and nurses with the blood collection. Laboratory staff includes the technician and phlebotomists. They are trained in health care and perform lab procedures safely.
It is essential to communicate with them regarding allergies, and certain medications, especially blood thinners. Since these medications will prolong the clotting time of blood, the staff will be careful in handling while drawing blood and suggest proper aftercare procedures.
Conclusion:
A blood test is a procedure to get information about health status. It will often help to screen various body organs and systems and diagnose various disease conditions. Screening has the advantage of detecting diseases even before the symptoms occur. Hence, using blood tests to monitor a disease will help in better treatment planning and progression.
