Healthy Habits - Never Take a Blood Test After Vomiting—Here's Why

 "Your body speaks to you in mysterious ways, and vomiting is one of them. Decoding this bodily function might put you on the path to understanding your health better, but it may not be as simple as you think," says Miranda Kay, RN at Nursa. Indeed, the human body is an intricate system that health specialists continuously try to comprehend. All the more reason why it's crucial to follow and trust their advice, especially when considering diagnostic techniques such as blood tests.

The Common Mistake After Vomiting: Taking A Blood Test

Vomiting is an exhausting experience, not just emotionally but also physically. It brings an array of discomforts like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and weakness, to name a few. Often, people rush to medical centers for a blood test right after a vomiting episode. They believe it is the quickest way to detect any underlying health issues. However, it's not just about faster results but also accurate ones.

Ill-informed or hasty decisions can often lead to inaccurate results. According to the National Library of Medicine, when you vomit, your body undergoes specific changes that can interfere with the components a blood test typically measures. The subsequent inconsistencies can skew the blood test results, reducing the test's effectiveness in diagnosing what might be wrong.

Why It's Recommended Not To Take A Blood Test After Vomiting

When people vomit, they lose a substantial amount of fluids. According to WebMD, this can lead to dehydration, resulting in hemoconcentration - a condition where the constituents of the blood are concentrated due to a loss of plasma in the blood. According to a study published in ResearchGate, dehydration can profoundly alter blood test results.

Hemoconcentration can increase the concentration of cell elements like red and white blood cells and platelets. It can also raise the concentration of glucose and proteins like Creatine Kinase in the blood, leading to abnormalities on a blood test. Hence, right after vomiting, the blood test results might indicate a false positive or negative, hampering an accurate diagnosis.

Additionally, vomiting stimulates the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. A study by Testing confirms this and states that these hormones can also distort blood test results. Consequently, the subsequent findings must correctly represent an individual's health condition, delaying the appropriate medical treatment.

When Blood Tests After Vomiting Don't Give The Whole Picture

Interpreting some medical complexities is often like trying to crack a code. A blood test after a vomiting episode is a logical and proactive step towards health. Still, as Nursa Medical Editor Miranda Kay, RN, highlights, "It's not just about faster results; it's about accurate ones."

The rush to diagnose without understanding the physiological consequences of vomiting can lead to misinterpretations and a potential delay in pinpointing the genuine health concern. Holding off a blood test till full recovery could be more beneficial than going for a quick blood workup post-vomiting.

After all, good health deserves patience and precision.

Post courtesy of https://nursa.com/ .