A blood test is a frequently prescribed procedure to identify a specific medical condition in a person. All experts are unanimous in terms of whether it is possible to smoke before taking tests.
Nicotine affects blood biochemical parameters. An alkaloid can contribute to the specialist's misinterpretation of test results.
Impact on blood counts
Before conducting a study, the doctor warns the patient why it is necessary to observe the prohibitions regarding preparation for it. Whether smoking affects a blood test is independent of the type, brand and composition of cigarettes. Nicotine significantly changes the structure of the biomaterial. The consequence of its use may be the receipt of erroneous information. This also applies to marijuana and any other type of smoking herb. Their use can be a reason for referring a patient for examination to a narcologist. Hookah smoking also distorts the results.
A bad habit has the following effect on the indicators of human biomaterial:
- modifies the cell karyotype;
- leads to a change in the properties of platelets;
- increases cholesterol value;
- adjusts the ratio of hormones;
- converts biochemical substrates;
- makes false hemoglobin levels;
- increases the concentration of cortisol and catecholamines.
Tobacco smoking in the latter case provokes a rapid decrease in the biological fluid of eosinophils with neutrophils. There are deviations in overall performance.
Due to the release of catecholamines, spasm of arterioles occurs, which leads to a deterioration in blood flow. The liquid itself becomes more viscous, which slightly complicates the process of taking it from the patient.
Due to nicotine, the supply of oxygen to internal organs is reduced. As a result of the combination of hemoglobin and carbon monoxide, a new substance appears. It cannot provide oxygen to tissues.
Oxyhemoglobin provokes its acute shortage. Oxygen starvation causes a person to feel unwell.
Attention!A smoker's lymphocyte count increases within an hour after using nicotine. A high concentration of these elements, when properly conducted, is an indicator of the development of inflammation in the body. Smoking leads to the doctor receiving a false health result.
A person who is accustomed to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day artificially increases the level of hemoglobin. The study may not reveal the patient has a really low protein value and existing iron deficiency anemia.
Finger blood donation results
This procedure must be done on an empty stomach. The doctor prohibits smoking before handing over the biomaterial from the finger. If the patient has used nicotine, then in the first 30 minutes he has an increased catecholamine level. The level of cortisol in the fluid also increases significantly.
With changes, a decreased value of eosinophils is observed. At the same time, the concentration of neutrophils increases. The result is a distortion of the picture of the study.
Do not smoke for at least an hour before taking biomaterial from a finger. Doctors have calculated how many hours before the start of the procedure it is allowed to smoke. You can do this in 4 hours, but it is better to abstain for 12 hours or a day.
Analysis of biomaterial from a vein
This type of study, with proper preparation, allows you to identify the largest number of pathologies in a patient. Blood from a vein is taken for general, immunological and biochemical analysis.
The specialist prohibits smoking before the procedure. Nicotine tends to change the structure of the blood. Due to the action of the alkaloid and tobacco smoke, oxygen starvation occurs, a failure occurs in the blood flow. The result is a distortion of the obtained data on the liquid.
Venous blood is considered the most informative biomaterial. Her fence is made to confirm or deny the presence of the following diseases:
- viral infections;
- liver and kidney pathologies;
- cancerous tumors;
- violations in the digestive tract;
- disruptions in the hormonal activity of the body.
Blood is donated from a vein if HIV is suspected. Smoking is prohibited 4 hours before the procedure.
Biomaterial from a vein is also taken to detect hepatitis. The patient is required to give up tobacco three days before the study. If syphilis is detected, it is also necessary to avoid smoking for several days preceding the analysis.
Additionally, the patient must donate blood on an empty stomach. He is forbidden to eat for 12 hours before the study.
Blood donation for glucose and smoking
Research is necessary to identify a person with diabetes. Doctors do not recommend smoking at least an hour before the procedure. Nicotine itself does not have a significant effect on glucose levels, but the alkaloid affects other indicators of the biomaterial. In fact, it is not recommended to smoke 12 hours or days before the sugar test.
Research of biomaterial for hormones
An alkaloid can negatively affect the body's hormones and glandular function. Quitting smoking is required before any such research.
Avoiding a bad habit is required for 3 days before determining the level of testosterone in men, since the property of nicotine is known to reduce its production by the testicles.
When taking an analysis for hCG, the female body must quit smoking at least 2 hours before the test. This hormone is an indicator of the onset of pregnancy. A woman, upon confirmation, is recommended to completely abandon the bad habit.
Nicotine can interfere with thyroid hormone testing. She is highly exposed to tobacco.
It is necessary not to smoke for three days before taking fluid for examining thyroid function.
Especially important!A bad habit provokes the development of thrombocytopenia in a person. The disease is characterized by a bleeding disorder. Internal bleeding may result. This pathology is also dangerous with a high probability of the formation of clots (thrombi) in the vessels, posing a threat to life.
How does it affect donation?
Nicotine changes not only the cellular, but also the plasma structure of the blood. A person who decides to become a donor undergoes a special study. Before the analysis, he needs to avoid alcohol for two days. It is important to quit smoking a few hours before the start of the study, since nicotine significantly alters plasma biochemistry.
Habit and urine analysis
Experts unequivocally answer the question as to whether it is allowed to smoke before passing a urine test. They do not recommend using nicotine at least an hour before urinating in order to draw body fluid. Tobacco and its components affect the composition of urine. Moreover, if a person smoked any narcotic herb, then the analysis will reveal its presence in the urine.
Thus, doctors strongly discourage patients from using nicotine before submitting a biomaterial for analysis, since tobacco smoking can have a significant effect on its composition.
Cigarettes noticeably affect the human hormonal background, and smoking immediately before the study can significantly distort the picture of its results and lead to an erroneous diagnosis.