Table of contents:
- Why do you have to fast before checking your health?
- This type of test requires fasting before a health check
- How long do you have to fast before checking your health?
- What are the consequences if you don't fast before the medical check-up?
- Can I take medicine when I have a medical check-up?
Have you ever had a medical check up? Medical check-up is a comprehensive health examination that aims to determine the patient's health condition. This health check can be done for all ages and genders depending on a person's needs. You can check your health anywhere as long as a laboratory is available to do blood tests.
Usually before doing a blood test, the doctor will instruct the patient to fast. But there are also certain types of health checks in which the doctor allows you to eat and drink whatever you want.
Correct preparation for the examination is what you need to do in order to get accurate examination results as a form of diagnosis related to the medical problem you are experiencing. That is why, you must carry out the instructions given by the doctor correctly to avoid re-examination or avoid unnecessary additional examinations.
Why do you have to fast before checking your health?
Fasting before doing a medical examination is very important to help ensure the results of the test you are doing are accurate. This is because the nutritional content in the food and drinks that you consume before taking the medical test will be absorbed into the bloodstream and can have a direct impact on the level of blood glucose, fat and iron in the body.
That is why you are ordered by your doctor to fast before taking a medical exam. This is also a way to ensure that the examination results are not influenced by the last meal consumption and can be interpreted correctly by the doctor so that the diagnosis process related to your health condition will be more accurate.
This type of test requires fasting before a health check
Several medical examinations that require patients to fast during medical check-ups, namely:
- Glucose test
- Cholesterol test (lipid / fat profile)
- Examination of urea and uric acid
- Liver function tests
- Triglyceride level checks
- Examination of the basic metabolic system
- And so forth
How long do you have to fast before checking your health?
Basically, the length of time you fast depends on the type of medical test you are doing. Fasting time ranges for 10-12 hours before doing a medical test. However, if you want to check your blood glucose levels, it is recommended that you fast for at least 8 hours.
What are the consequences if you don't fast before the medical check-up?
Fasting in the context of a health check is not consuming food and drink within a predetermined period of time. Even so, you are still allowed to drink water to keep your body well hydrated so that it will give you an idea of the actual examination level.
Now, if you do not fast or fast not according to the recommended time, the test you are doing will give inaccurate results because certain tests are still influenced by food. However, if you feel that fasting will actually cause problems for your body condition, you can consult your doctor or nurse.
Can I take medicine when I have a medical check-up?
Before you have a medical check-up, you are not allowed to take medicines for a certain period of time. Because there are several drugs that will have an impact on the results of blood tests. However, if you are required to keep taking the medicine, it's a good idea to confirm it with the laboratory. This aims to assist the laboratory in validating your medical test results.
Health checks should be done in the morning, when the body is still in good shape after resting at night. In addition, our bodies have biological variations according to time, meaning that chemicals checked in the morning can give different results when checked in the afternoon. For that, make sure you follow the instructions of a doctor or laboratory officer before checking your health.
