Does Eating Before a Physical Examination Affect Liver Function?

Update Date: 2024-06-20 Source: Network

Physical Examination and Precautions

Blood drawing is required for liver function tests during physical examination, and it is generally recommended to be done on an empty stomach. Eating or drinking before the examination can affect the accuracy of liver function tests.

1. Does Eating Before a Physical Examination Affect Liver Function?

It is necessary to be on an empty stomach before a physical examination, as eating or drinking may affect the results of liver function tests and potentially lead to elevated levels of transaminases and bilirubin. The fasting requirement is to avoid eating for 12 hours before the examination and to maintain an empty stomach state on the morning of the examination. This includes not eating or drinking, as the physical examination usually includes blood tests for fasting blood glucose and lipid levels. Eating before the test can significantly alter the results of these tests. Additionally, it is crucial to maintain an empty stomach state during ultrasound exams of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. This ensures that the gallbladder is in a full state, allowing for better visualization of the hepatobiliary structure.

2. Precautions for Physical Examination

Before the examination:

Eat a light diet on the day before the examination, avoid alcohol and excessive exertion. On the day of the examination, maintain an empty stomach and refrain from eating and drinking. Avoid taking medications that may harm liver or kidney function (except for antihypertensive and hypoglycemic drugs).
Get rest on the day before the examination and avoid eating after 8 pm. Avoid vigorous exercise and emotional excitement to ensure adequate sleep and prevent any adverse effects on the examination results.
Women should avoid gynecological and urine tests during menstruation.

During the examination:

Items that require fasting include blood drawing, abdominal ultrasound, digital gastrointestinal examination, endoscopy, and other specified tests.
When undergoing ultrasound of the bladder, uterus, and annexes, please do not urinate. If there is no urine, please drink water until the bladder is full. Empty the bladder before undergoing a gynecological examination.
Unmarried women should not undergo a gynecological examination. Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant should inform healthcare professionals before the examination and avoid X-ray examinations, bone density measurements, cervical scrapings, and cervical liquid-based thin-layer cytology tests.
Individuals who are contraindicated for radiation should not undergo X-ray examinations. Before radiation exams, please remove any jewelry, gold, jade, or other ornaments. If you have metal implants in your body, please inform the examining doctor before the examination.
When undergoing transcranial Doppler examination, it is necessary to stop taking medications that affect cerebral blood vessels for at least 3 days. Wash your hair the day before the electroencephalogram examination.
For magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is prohibited to wear jewelry, watches, mobile phones, or other metal objects.