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Is it possible to eat before donating blood from a finger for analysis to a child
Let’s see if you can eat before donating blood from the finger. Perhaps the ban on breakfast is just a myth, and we are in vain starving ourselves before going to the clinic.
Is it okay to eat before donating blood to a child
To understand whether it is possible to have a hearty breakfast or at least have a snack before taking blood, you need to understand how food interacts with blood. After food enters the digestive tract, it is processed, and nutrients from it enter the bloodstream, because the main task of the circulatory system is to deliver nutrients to different parts of our body.
Is it okay to eat before donating blood from the finger or should you refuse breakfast
Depending on what you eat, the blood will be saturated with some substances. Fatty foods will raise cholesterol levels, fish and seafood – protein levels, sweets – glucose levels, meat will thicken the blood, etc. Such an analysis will not give any information, it will just be wasted time. In the best case, the doctor will prescribe a test blood donation, in the worst case, he will make the wrong diagnosis and prescribe treatment against him.
As you can see, it is strictly forbidden to eat in the morning. The last meal should take place 6-12 hours before blood sampling. The more high-calorie food, the more time must pass. In the evening before going to the clinic, it is best to eat porridge with white meat, vegetables and some fruit. All these rules apply to both adults and babies, because our circulatory system works the same, regardless of age.
How to prepare for a fingerstick test
Fingertip blood is usually taken in the morning, unless the case is urgent. In addition to the fact that you cannot eat before this procedure, you need to follow some more preparation rules:
- Don’t take medication. Ask your doctor how long before the procedure to stop taking medication.
- Do not drink alcohol 2 days before your visit to the clinic.
- Avoid any physical therapy that may affect your blood flow. An example of such procedures is ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, fluorography.
- On the eve of the procedure, do not overheat too much in the bath or sauna. This is especially important if you plan to donate blood for hormones, since overheating affects their release.
- If you are following a therapeutic diet, such as a protein diet, be sure to tell your doctor.
Before the procedure, try to have a good rest, do not play sports and protect yourself from stressful situations, because all this affects the state of the blood.
So, you can’t eat before donating blood. In addition, it is important to remember about other rules of preparation.