What Happens If You Smoke Before Giving Blood for Testing: A Scientific Explanation

11.09.2024 08:51
Updated: 27.09.2024 21:06

Tests must be taken on an empty stomach, and this recommendation is more or less followed by everyone.

But what about bad habits and smoking in particular?

Experts have explained what terrible things can happen if you smoke before giving blood for a test.

At the very least, smoking will affect the accuracy of the results, not to mention your long-term well-being.

General recommendations

Preparation for the so-called OAC excludes the consumption of alcohol, fatty and other unhealthy foods at least 12 hours before the test.

Polyclinic
Photo: © Belnovosti

But many forget that smoking affects overall well-being and the state of the cardiovascular system.

Can I smoke before taking a blood test?

1. Smoking reduces the level of oxygen in the blood. At the same time, the concentration of toxic substances increases, which prevents accurate results.

2. Smoking increases the level of leukocytes, which again leads to erroneous results.

3. Smoking affects blood pressure levels.

Therefore, at least 1.5-2 hours should pass between smoking a cigarette and taking a blood test.

It is recommended to wait about the same amount of time after the analysis. If you smoke a cigarette right away, you may feel dizzy or your blood pressure may rise.

Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor

Content
  1. General recommendations
  2. Can I smoke before taking a blood test?