Are you hungry? Don’t worry, there is something to tell you about fasting before the physical examination!

Physical examination is an important part of maintaining personal health, which involves many detailed medical procedures and considerations. Why are we often asked to fast during physical examination? Does this mean that we cannot drink any water during fasting? Do we need to temporarily stop taking medication during the physical examination? These questions may confuse many people.

However, in reality, every requirement and suggestion is based on scientific arguments and medical considerations. Next, Ke Xiao Er will invite experts to answer these common questions in physical examinations one by one, and take you to a deeper understanding of the mysteries.

Which physical examinations require fasting?

The items that require fasting before the physical examination mainly include blood tests, abdominal liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen color Doppler ultrasound, enhanced CT examination, carbon 13 or carbon 14 breath test, bronchoscopy, laryngoscopy, transesophageal cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, etc. But don't worry, this is not to make you a "fasting master", but just to ensure the accuracy of the results.

Why do you have to go hungry?

Hey, don't rush to eat breakfast! An empty stomach ensures the accuracy of blood test results. After all, we don't want the blood to become "creamy", which seriously interferes with the test results! And imagine that your endoscopy is blocked by a burger. That's a "bloody" performance! Within half an hour after eating, the blood will become chylous and cloudy like milk. It's sweeter than cotton candy!

However, many test items require a colorimetric process, and chylomicronized blood will seriously interfere with the test results. Once the blood becomes chylomicronized, the test results will become a mess. For endoscopic examinations such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy, if they are performed after a meal, food residues in the stomach may "block" the endoscopic tube and cause a vomiting show, so an empty stomach is required. An empty stomach not only avoids the effects of food on organs, but also prevents the gallbladder from contracting and bile from being discharged, making it much easier to detect lesions. Therefore, an empty stomach examination is the best way!

How long should I fast? Can I drink water during this period?

The definition of fasting before a physical examination usually refers to fasting for a period of time before a physical examination to ensure the accuracy of the physical examination results. This period of time is usually more than 8 hours and no more than 16 hours.

It is worth noting that fasting here does not only mean not eating, but also not drinking any beverages. Although you need to fast before the physical examination, it does not mean that you cannot drink water during the entire fasting period. If you are really thirsty, you can also drink water in moderation. However, when you want to drink water, don't drink too much. The total amount should not exceed 200 ml, otherwise the bubbles will scare the doctor away!

Do I need to stop taking medication during the physical examination?

In the mysterious ritual of physical examination, the question of whether to stop taking medication or continue to "stick to medication" is actually a complicated situation. Whether you need to stop taking medication during the physical examination depends on the specific medication you are taking and the items of the physical examination.

For some specific drugs, such as antibiotics, vitamin C, diet pills or contraceptives, you should stop taking them three days before the physical examination , otherwise the test results may be messed up by these "noises". For example, antibiotics may form crystals in the urine, thus affecting the indicators in the urine routine test.

However, patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease should take medication as usual on the day of the physical examination and should not stop or postpone taking medication rashly in order to maintain stable blood pressure. Otherwise, there will be a "medical war caused by stopping medication"!

Tips for dressing during a physical examination

When undergoing a physical examination, there are some things you need to pay attention to when dressing:

1. It is recommended to wear loose clothing

During a physical examination, you will need to undergo a number of tests, including electrocardiograms and B-ultrasounds, which usually require you to expose the corresponding parts of your body. Therefore, it is very important to wear loose, comfortable, and easy-to-put-on-and-off clothing.

2. Don’t become the spokesperson for “metal inspection”

Don’t forget to take off your “bling bling”, otherwise it may be seen as a gold brick by the X-ray! Girls should be careful not to wear bras with metal underwires, so as not to affect the examination results.

3. Easy to wear and take off

Simple is beautiful! The physical examination may require you to change your clothes frequently, so it is best to wear clothes that are easy to take off, such as cardigans and T-shirts. At the same time, in order to avoid embarrassing situations during the physical examination, it is recommended not to wear complicated things such as dresses and jumpsuits, so as not to trip over your own clothes!

The medical examination should be postponed in the following cases

1. If you have a sudden illness such as fever, diarrhea, or cold, avoid physical examinations and take care of yourself first!

2. The menstrual period is also a "forbidden zone" and gynecological examinations are not recommended. The results of cervical smears, leucorrhea routine tests, and urine routine tests are easily affected.

3. Early bird pregnant women also have to postpone their physical examinations to avoid being affected by X-rays, as babies have sensitive skin!

4. During the recovery period of the operation, you need to wait for a period of time under the guidance of a doctor to allow your body to recover and stabilize before undergoing a physical examination.
References:

[1] Zhao Yunna, Liu Baoxin, Ke Jingjing. Analysis of health examination results of 2 393 elderly people[J]. Chinese Journal of Urban and Rural Enterprise Health, 2024, 39(03): 40-42. DOI:10.16286/j.1003-5052. 2024. 03. 014.

[2] Liang Xinyue, Chen Xiaoxiao, Wang Liangyou, et al. Common chronic health problems and related factors of coexistence of multiple diseases among people aged ≥45 years in a community in Taizhou City[J]. Chinese Journal of Disease Control, 2024, 28(02): 233-240. DOI: 10.16462/ j.cnki. zhjbkz. 2024. 02. 017.

[3] Yu Hu, Zhou Song, Huang Ying. Why are the elderly reluctant to go for physical examinations? [N]. Chongqing Daily, 2024-01-11(005). DOI: 10.28120/n. cnki.ncqrb. 2024. 000396.