Lab test results provide notable details about your overall health. Details like blood glucose, cholesterol, and pressure tell how well your organs function. Whether recommended by your doctor or you opt to go for labs, testing & x-rays Greensboro voluntarily, the information gained can help you make sound decisions to improve your quality of life. Blood tests are often the standard exams, although you may have an x-ray in cases such as injuries or urine, stool, or saliva following your condition. Here is a glance at what you can do to prepare for a lab test to gain better information.
Meals
Many blood tests require you to fast for at least 12 hours before the appointment. Observing this is essential since food impacts blood glucose and cholesterol levels, influencing the results. You may take a glass of water while fasting. Besides avoiding food, you should also not take alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks like coffee, or smoke the morning of the test day. If you have diabetes, talk to your primary doctor to ensure you follow an appropriate fasting procedure and avoid complications. Even when lab tests do not require fasting, you still need to watch your meals. Avoid overeating or trying new diets a day before the test. This is because a new item may cause a reaction that could influence the test.
Medications
You may need to pause if you take certain medications, including herbal or dietary supplements. Medication influences your lab test results, hence the need to pause sample collection. For instance, a thyroid test is done before taking the medicine. Following your doctor’s recommendations on medication to take or pause is essential for more comprehensive results. This includes when the test aims to establish drug concentration in your bloodstream.
Physical activity
Physical activity impacts your body in many ways that can affect lab test results. For instance, if you engage in strenuous activity before the test, your LDH activity and liver function could be elevated, and the protein released into the blood could spike. This means the test results won’t accurately represent your organ function and overall health status. Quality rest which includes minimizing standing periods is recommended.
Timing
Most lab tests are scheduled in the early hours of the day. The timing may seem inconvenient, but it is for good reasons. For instance, hormone measurements are often between 8 to 12 a.m. because hormone levels vary throughout the day. Stool and urine sample collection in the morning is also often recommended. The bottom line is that the samples are better suited for lab tests after you have had a restful night. This also means you should manage your stress levels to help you sleep well the night before the lab test.
Lab tests may be challenging, especially if you are scared of needles and expect to have some blood drawn. Nonetheless, the tests are crucial as they help you know more about your health and inform your next steps. Contact Triad Primary Care today for all your lab test needs.
