What you need to know before you have a health checkup
Blood Test
■ You must have nothing to eat or drink (besides tap water) for 12 hours prior to your blood test appointment. However, you must not fast if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic.
Carotid Exam (main artery on the neck)
■ It would be helpful if you would wear a shirt or blouse that is loose-fitting for easy access to your neck area.
■ Remove earrings and necklaces before the exam.
Abdominal Exam
■ Do not eat solid foods 6 hours prior to the exam.
■ This exam requires a sonographer to scan your abdomen directly, so please wear a two-piece outfit.
■ If you are diabetic and are not comfortable fasting for 4 hours, please limit yourself to a "diabetic meal."
Peripheral Exam
■ Please do not wear stockings for this exam.
■ Shirts with sleeves that can be easily pulled above the elbow and pants that can be pulled above the ankle would be helpful.
Don't worry about pacemakers, hearing aids, dental work, or previous surgery. They will not be damaged, nor will their function be disturbed by our exams. They will not interfere with the results of our tests. All exams are completely painless except for the blood test, which requires only a small prick of the finger.
