You should not eat or drink 8 to 12 hours before surgery.
It is very important to follow these instructions to make sure they are in and after surgery.
Reasons why you should not eat or drink before surgery
1) Reflections of the body stop temporarily.
The combination of anesthesia, which paralyzes the body, and intubation makes it possible the vomit to pass into the lungs.
This can cause a dangerous behavior, such as pneumonia and difficulty breathing, which can compromise recovery.
Smoking, chewing gum, sucking a peppermint pill, or brushing your teeth can cause the stomach to generate digestive fluids that could be inhaled through the lungs.
So it is very important that you follow the doctor’s instructions and do not eat before the surgery.
2) Surgery in the gastrointestinal system.
Having food in the gastrointestinal system could complicate the surgery and cause an infection.
In some cases, it is necessary to make an intestinal preparation, to completely empty the digestive tract and prepare it for surgery.
Can I eat and drink before I have a blood test?
It depends on the type of blood test.
The blood tests for which it is necessary to fast:
- Blood glucose test
- Iron levels
- Blood cholesterol (lipid profile)
- Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test. They are used to diagnose liver problems. GGT levels can be affected if you drink alcohol in the 24 hours before the test. Smoking can also affect the results of the test.
