Posted on

What Happens if You Don’t Fast Before a Blood Test?

You may have to fast before having some blood tests. You will be notified by your doctor beforehand whether you can eat or drink anything. Sometimes, you are asked not to consume anything, except water several hours before the test.

It is very vital to fast before some blood tests to ensure the accuracy of test results. All the food and beverages have minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats and proteins which affect readings of your blood sugar level and results are clouded. You don’t have to fast beforehand for all blood tests. But here are some tests which require you to do so –

  • Liver function test
  • Blood glucose test
  • Triglyceride level test
  • Cholesterol test
  • Renal function panel
  • Lipoprotein panel
  • Basic metabolic panel
  • LDL level test
  • HDL level test

If you are prescribed with a new blood test and you don’t know whether fasting is necessary, you should ask them first. Fasting is not required in some blood tests like fecal occult tests but you cannot eat some foods. Some medications, broccoli, and red meats also lead to false positives. So, ask your doctor for advice before going for a test.

Can you still go for a blood test without fasting?

As discussed above, your test results may not be technically correct if you avoid fasting before having a blood test. If you drink or eat something by mistake, ask your doctor if you can still go for the test. The technicians at the best pathology lab in Gurugram will analyze the test considering that you were not fasting.

Of course the results will vary. The key here is to be direct. Even if you had some coffee before having a test, inform the technician before getting your blood drawn. They will write it down and review the results with a variable of food intake. However, they can reschedule your blood test if fasting is the #1 priority for accurate results.

 

Even better, you can drink enough water in two days leading up to your test because your veins will be more visible as water hydrates the body. You may drink several glasses of water before they draw your blood so a nurse or other professional can easily find a vein.

Posted on

Safety measures to keep pregnant women and infants safe during the lockdown

The world seems like a scary place right now. With nationwide lockdowns, lack of medical supplies and a constant increase in the number of people who have lost this battle, everyone is scared. Although each one of us is at risk of contracting coronavirus disease, pregnant women, elderly and infants are being considered as a vulnerable population right now. These are the people who need extra care and attention until the situation gets better.

This article talks about some measures to be taken to protect these most vulnerable – pregnant women, elderly and infants – from the coronavirus disease.

Being pregnant and delivering during a pandemic?

While giving birth might seem scary at any time, giving birth during a pandemic may feel especially challenging. Unlike other healthcare services, maternity care cannot be postponed. The topmost concern most pregnant women are facing right now is the risk of contracting the disease and passing it to the baby.

Since the virus is new, scientists are still learning about it. Facts like whether the virus can increase the risk of miscarriage, whether it can transmit from mother to child in the womb, whether it can cause in-fetal malformations are yet to be known. However, during pregnancy, women’s immune system is altered; especially during the third trimester. And thus, the need for taking special precautions arises.

  • Do not cancel your routine checkups. If you’re afraid of contracting the disease by going to the hospital, then opt for online or telephonic consultation.
  • If you have tests and scans planned, then do not delay them. Get them done as per the plan.
  • If you are having symptoms of COVID-19, then without any delay contact your healthcare professional and follow their guidance.
  • Be ready to experience some disruption in your maternal care. There can be staff shortages or changes in the plan by your doctor.
  • If you are considering home birth rather than a hospital right now, then think again. There may be a higher risk of transmission of the virus at home than at the hospital due to fewer restrictions on visitors.
  • Proper hygiene should be maintained at all times and follow the government’s advice about social distancing.

Worried about your baby getting infected?

Babies and young children have immature immune systems making them vulnerable to coronavirus. Although the symptoms of coronavirus in babies and children seem to be much milder, nothing definitive can be said yet, as the research is ongoing. Also, since there is no vaccine available to treat COVID -19 at the moment, it is extremely important to take extra precautions to prevent your baby from falling sick.

  • It is essential to keep your child at home at all times.
  • Limit people from visiting your home. Even if it is close family and friends, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet.
  • Teach your child the proper way to wash their hands and tell them to that regularly, especially after using the bathroom, blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • It can be hard to teach your children to follow hygiene rules consistently. To deal with this you might need to explain to your child the need to do it in the language they can understand. This will make them more willing to do what you ask of them.
  • Make sure your child is eating healthy and is having plenty of fluids.
  • If your child is showing symptoms of the illness, call your doctor immediately.
  • Disinfect your home thoroughly and regularly.
  • Make sure all their vaccines are up to date.
  • If you’re breastfeeding and have symptoms, wear a mask to protect your child. Also make sure you disinfect your hands when you handle your child and if possible, limit contact till you have recovered.
Posted on

How to get rid of vitamin D deficiency ?

Vitamin D deficiency and its problems are increasing rapidly, especially in cities. The reason, people do not take sunlight. This causes vitamin D deficiency and various problems in the body. The problem is that most people are not aware of the significance of Vitamin D

Why is vitamin D important?

For strengthening bones, muscles, and ligaments

To increase the immunity of the body

To control the coordination of nerves and muscles

To prevent inflammation and infection

To reduce the risk of kidney, lung, liver and heart diseases

To help prevent cancer

Problems due to scarcity

Weak and hollow bones

The weakness of joints and muscles

Pain in the waist and lower parts of the body, especially in the calf

Bone sound

Reduced immunity

Hair fall

Be very tired and lethargic

Be restless and short-tempered

Increased infertility

Irregular Periods

Diseases like osteoporosis (bone hollowing) and osteomalacia (bone weakening)

Frequent fracturing

How much vitamin D is needed?

Vitamin D should be 50 ng / mL or more in any healthy person. Although there is a normal range between 20 to 50 ng / mL, doctors consider 50 as the best. If the level is less than 25, vitamin D supplements must be taken with the advice of the doctor.

Test and treatment:

If there is a pain in bones or muscles, do a ’25-hydroxy vitamin D’ blood test. It is also called the ‘Vitamin D Deficiency Test’. If there is no pain in the body, then this test can be done. If the level is too low, you can do it again after six months or a year.

Price: around 1200-1300 rupees

Treatment:

6 lakh IU (International Unit) is given to children at a time to meet vitamin D deficiency. It is also given multiple times via injection. Then 60,000 units are given every week and 60,000 units every month till the normal range comes, which is given orli.

Elders are given 12 lakh IU (International Unit) at a time. Then for the first three months, 60,000 units are given every week and then once every month 60,000 units are given.

If not exposed to sunlight, a sachet should be taken every month after the age of 25-30 years.

Most experts believe that everyone should take vitamin D dose without conducting this test and without the advice of the doctor because it is not fulfilled by eating and most people are deficient in it.

There is no harm to taking sachets once a month. One sachet fulfills a month’s vitamin D quota. Its price is also up to 25-30 rupees, that is, not too expensive. Visit:  www.pathexperts.in

Posted on

Coronavirus Symptoms and Precautions

Coronavirus has spread very fast in the world including India, the virus has been identified in China. Coronavirus is part of the SARS virus family. This virus makes humans as well as animals its prey. It is an RNA virus, which means that it breaks into cells inside a body and uses them to regenerate itself. The coronavirus is spreading in Wuhan, China like never before.  Much information is not available about this virus. Experts believe that the coronavirus comes from a family of viruses that infect humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals.

 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus is linked to seafood and is thought to have originated from a seafood market in Wuhan China. Coronavirus belongs to the family of viruses and people are getting sick from it. The virus is also entering many animals including camels, cats, and bats. The WHO has also expressed apprehension that the virus can spread from one person to another.

 

Symptoms begin to appear at least 14 days after becoming infected with the virus. Coronavirus patients show the initial symptoms like cold, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, fever. These symptoms then cause pneumonia and kidney damage.

 

Treatment of Corona Virus

 

There is no cure for the coronavirus at this time. Antibiotics do not fight viruses, so their use is futile. Although antiviral drugs can be useful, 

 

How does Corona Virus Spread

This disease can spread to people only through cough and sneeze, this means that this virus can be easily transmitted to anyone. Apart from this, it can also spread through close contact, kissing or sharing utensils through saliva. Because it infects the lungs, the droplets released from the mouth while coughing can also infect the person present.

Measures to avoid coronavirus:

Avoid Sea Food

Take care of cleanliness

Wash your hands with soap before eating

Keep your nose and mouth covered while taking caring of people who are suffering from cold and cough

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Posted on

Know about Dengue Symptoms

Are you worried about the increasing number of dengue cases? Dengue is actually an infection and can severely affect it. “Dengue fever” has become increasingly common in lots of areas and needs to be controlled. As dengue can take a serious turn in some cases, Awareness of signs and symptoms of dengue is always helpful

Dengue is a viral infection that spreads through the bite of a female Aedes mosquito and can affect almost everyone. Fever, headache, and joint pain are common symptoms, dengue rashes also need attention. It is known as Break-Bone fever’ because of extreme pain in joints

Detection of Dengue on time is very important to avoid complications. It can be diagnosed by laboratory test You can seek medical attention on time and you can always go for a blood test to detect dengue. You can protect yourself only when you are aware of the warning signs of dengue, so it is necessary to understand the signs and symptoms of dengue.

Symptoms of dengue

mosquitoes are mainly involved in the spread of dengue fever, Dengue is widely prevalent in India, but frequent travelers to other tropical countries are also at greater risk. Both adults and children can be affected by dengue and people with low immunity may be affected even more.

Some common symptoms of dengue in adults include frequent vomiting, headaches, joint pain, body pain and high fever with nausea along with lots of pain in the eyes. It is considered stage 1 of Dengue fever. Normally these symptoms can last up seven days, after which they abate. If the condition of patients worsens then medical supervision and attention is necessary

Children and adolescents may show no symptoms in mild dengue. However, some mild symptoms can be noticed several times between Four days to Two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms remain almost like adults and usually occur in 2 to 7 days.

Dengue symptoms in infants may appear within 4 to 6 days of infection. Sudden high fever occurs with eye pain, headache and body pain. Notable symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, skin rashes may appear after a few days, including bleeding from the gums and bleeding from the nose. However, even in infants, mild forms of dengue may have no symptoms or the symptoms are not well recognized. Furthermore, since children are unable to express their complaints, they should be properly evaluated.

In some cases, it can turn into a serious condition, which is potentially fatal. However, timely laboratory testing and appropriate treatment for dengue can help control complications.

https://www.pathexperts.in/profile/details/Fever-Panel–2-14