10 Things You Should Never Do Before a Doctor Appointment
Whether you're going in for checkups or common tests, here's how to get the most out of your next visit.
Don’t drink alcohol before a cholesterol test
Avoid anything that alters your triglycerides (one of the four components measured in a cholesterol profile), since that could lead to needlessly worrying results. “The precaution to abstain 24 hours prior to a cholesterol test is based on the potential increase in triglycerides that could result soon after drinking alcohol,” says Joon Sup Lee, MD, chief of cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and co-director of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. You should also avoid sweets, high-fat foods, and generally overeating before the test. “All of these in large quantities can affect the triglycerides in the short term,” Dr. Lee says. “Since we want the result of the cholesterol exam to reflect what your body is doing in the long term, it is best to avoid these short-term fluctuations.”
Take a closer look at the effects of alcohol on your body.
Don’t drink coffee before a blood pressure test
Your blood pressure will probably be taken at a checkup, so avoid coffee right before your appointment: it could affect the results. “Using coffee or other caffeine such as energy drinks or colas within an hour of having your blood pressure measured can make the number artificially higher,” says James Dewar, MD, vice chairman of family medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC). “The same goes for tobacco products and over-the-counter decongestant medications.”
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Don’t eat a high-fat meal before getting blood drawn
You should also skip the fettucini alfredo before getting regular blood work done. “If you wouldn’t normally have a high-fat meal, then don’t do it, so your physician can get an accurate picture of your health,” says Deepa Iyengar, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and an attending physician at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Unusually large meals could skew test results. In fact, you may need to avoid eating in general. “If your blood work will include a measurement of cholesterol or other fats, it is best to avoid any calories for eight to 10 hours before the test is drawn,” says Dr. Dewar. “Your blood sugar and certain fats in the blood called triglycerides can be increased for a bit after you eat.” And you may not have a choice: you’ll probably be told to fast before a regular blood workup, says Dr. Iyengar.
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Do drink lots of water before a physical
In general, it’s a good idea to hydrate before seeing the doc for a checkup. “Being well hydrated at the time of a physical will make your pulse and blood pressure at their best,” Dr. Dewar says. “If you are having blood work or urine testing done, being mildly dehydrated can cause artificial abnormalities in the testing that can confuse the results.” You do want the doctor to picture your normal lifestyle, but you should be drinking lots of water anyways.
Find out how much water you should drink to stay hydrated.
Do eat as you normally would before a checkup
You don’t need to change your eating habits before an annual appointment, even if you want to seem healthy. “Your providers would like you to be honest and upfront about your lifestyle and diet so they can have an accurate history of your health and provide you with the best possible care,” says Gregory John Galbreath, MD, a PIH Health physician in Whittier, California. After all, a few days of healthier eating probably won’t matter. “It takes a long time for a diet to change cholesterol and blood sugar, so a dietary change of a few days or meals isn’t going to do much,” Dr. Dewar says. Changes occur over the long term, so just eat healthy as often as you can.
Serious about adopting healthier eating habits over the long-term? Here are 20 foods that can help lower blood pressure.
Don’t take cold medicine before a sick visit (if you can)
When you’re sick, your doctor may want to evaluate your symptoms without the effects of any over-the-counter medications. “If possible, don’t take anything so your doctor can see any abnormal findings and assess your condition,” says Dr. Iyengar. “Some medications may raise blood pressure, and your physician would not know if the medication or the illness could be the cause.” If you’re really hurting, it’s probably okay to go ahead—your doctor wants you to feel better. Just be ready to describe your symptoms. And definitely tell the doctor what you’ve taken. “If you are taking medications to help with an acute illness, it’s important to let the doctor know if they are helping and/or causing side effects,” Dr. Dewar says. “This can help the doctor and you decide on the next steps in treatment.”
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Don’t get a mani-pedi before the dermatologist
Dermatologists look at your whole body, including your nails, so keep them polish-free. “Avoid wearing nail polish or acrylic nails,” says Sarina Elmariah, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Subtle clues in your nails can indicate bigger health problems, like anemia, diabetes and even heart ailments. Plus, bare nails make it easy to spot fungus. Also, skip the cover-up and eye shadow, so your doctor can easily spot facial skin problems. “Avoid wearing makeup or be willing to remove it if necessary,” she says. But it is okay to wear sunscreen or lotions, she says.
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Don’t have caffeine before some stress tests
A stress test works your heart (by walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike) to see how it reacts and to ensure that it’s healthy. But if you’re having a stress test that involves pharmacological agents, don’t have caffeine beforehand. “Caffeine counteracts the medicine—adenosine or regadenosine—used to simulate stress in the ‘chemical’ stress test,” says Dr. Lee.
Here’s how to make your daily coffee habit healthier.
Don’t get too thirsty before a urine test
If you need to go for a urine test, don’t get dehydrated before your appointment. If you exercise, that means you need to drink plenty of water afterward. “Avoid episodes of major dehydration that can significantly alter a urinalysis,” Benjamin Davies, MD, chief of urology at the UPMC Shadyside/Hillman Cancer Center. “And avoid exercise that’s not in your normal daily routine.” If you exercise regularly, you probably know how your body will react and how to take care of it afterward. If you’re not used to it, you’re more likely to get dehydrated.
Here’s what happens to your body when you start drinking eight glasses of water a day.
Don’t cancel your gyno if you have your period
Although you might be grossed out by your period, your doctor’s seen worse. “I would often joke with a patient who comes in and says, ‘Oh, I just got my period this morning, I’m so nervous,’ and it will be like right after I’ve done a cesarean section or delivery—like I never saw blood before!” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OBGYN at Yale-New Haven Hospital and founder of the women’s health website MadameOvary.com. But any tests you have with your period should be fine. “The liquid Pap smear tests that are the standard now can be done even when a woman is menstruating, so no need to reschedule,” says Elizabeth Roth, MD, an ob-gyn at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Some women feel more comfortable rescheduling when they have their period, but medically there is no need to do this.” The only exception? If you’re going in for a specific concern, like funky discharge or a lesion, your period might obscure the exam. “But even that is not an absolute as we can still do vaginal cultures,” Dr. Roth says.
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Don’t use deodorant before a mammogram
As if mammograms weren’t nerve-wracking enough, you can’t even protect against sweating! “Mammography advises women to skip deodorant/antiperspirant or powders on the day of the mammogram,” Dr. Roth says. “The reason is that many deodorants and powders contain aluminum, which on mammography looks similar to breast calcifications and could be read as a false positive.” You might be worried about B.O., but the techs are used to it. Just shower beforehand and it won’t be that bad. Plus, it’s better than getting incorrect bad news later!
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Don’t eat red food before a colonoscopy
Red or purple food can colour your colon. Even those ice pops you’re advised to have while eating lightly the day before the test could be trouble. “We ask that these are not purple or red in colour because they will mask the lining of the colon and could then affect the outcome of the study,” says Randall Brand, MD, a gastroenterologist at UPMC. Interestingly, iron supplements can have the same effect. And they can have some other not-so-pleasant consequences. “Iron can also stain the walls of the colon, again having an effect on a successful study,” Dr. Brand says. “In addition, iron, for many people, can be constipating and may make it difficult for the pre-colonoscopy laxatives to completely clean out the colon for a successful study.” You should stop taking iron a week before your colonoscopy. Other things that can be hard to clean out are high-fibre foods like raw fruits and vegetables, corn and beans. Dr. Brand says to avoid them for three days before the procedure.
Do go ahead and have sex before the gyno or urologist
Don’t worry: doctors say it’s ok to do the deed before your visit, even though you may think that having sex before a visit to the gynecologist (for a woman) or the urologist (for a man) is a no-no. “Your doctor’s not going to yell at you for having sex—it’s totally fine,” Dr. Minkin says. But again, if you’re going to be nervous about it, skip the sex or reschedule. “It will not affect your physical exam either way, nor will it affect the Pap smear,” Dr. Roth says. For men, you might be worried that it will affect any tests you have on your urine, testicles, or prostate, but Dr. Davies says that’s not the case. “Normal sexual activity is fine,” he says. “There are no significant abnormalities associated with sexual relations.”
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Do write down your questions beforehand
No matter what kind of appointment you have, you may be nervous. After all, we can feel vulnerable and embarrassed during doctors exams. That’s why you should write down the things you want to talk about before you go (or even make a note on your phone). That way, you’re less likely to forget or lose your nerve. “It’s helpful if you come in with your list of questions so you’re not like, ‘Oh, I meant to ask this, I meant to ask that but I was too nervous,'” Dr. Minkin says. “Don’t be afraid to write down, ‘vaginal dryness is a problem’ if it is, and you can talk about it.” Other than that, the only other thing you should probably do is shower!
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