There are situations where you need to get tested, but the person has been drinking. Consequently, the question arises, is it possible to drink alcohol before donating blood? First of all, people are not interested in rumors, but in what authoritative scientific studies say about the effect of alcohol on blood tests.
Alcohol and blood composition
You should know: alcohol affects all organs and systems of the body due to the fact that it is immediately absorbed into the blood and changes its composition. This is the main reason why alcohol affects the blood test and changes the indicators.
That is why, if you want to get accurate results and drink the day before, you need to think about whether it is possible to donate blood after alcohol and, if possible, postpone the blood donation for two or three days. Of course, the effect of alcohol on blood tests can be minimal, and in some cases the indicators will not change much: much depends on the individual characteristics of the body, the amount of alcohol, the type of analysis and the type of alcohol. But still, it is better not to take any chances: if the analysis is paid, you can lose serious money.
And if it is more or less clear with vodka, then when it comes to a low alcohol drink, in order for an alcohol lover to understand whether it is possible to drink beer before taking it, it is necessary to understand exactly how to drink alcohol first. of tests affect the body. To do this, you need to have an idea of how alcohol affects metabolism and other processes.
Clinical blood test
Alcohol causes the body to dehydrate, which causes the blood to thicken. This leads to the fact that a general blood test can show a false increase in the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, when not their number has changed, but the amount of water in the blood.
There may be another image. For example, excess alcohol lowers the level of white blood cells in the blood. This is due to the fact that immune cells die in the fight against toxins, as a result of which the number of leukocytes becomes below normal. The fewer white blood cells in the blood, the harder it is for the body to cope with infections.
Of course, drinking a dose or two of alcohol is unlikely to negatively affect the functioning of the immune system. But if you drink a lot of alcohol, that's a completely different story. If a person feels intoxicated some time after drinking, this is an accurate indicator that the immune system is damaged. With such amounts of alcohol, a lack of nutrients is created, which weakens the immune system. And all this is able to visualize the analysis.
Alcohol also has a negative effect on red blood cells: it causes them to stick to each other. Because of this, clumps of red blood cells are often unable to pass into the narrow vessels and block blood flow in the capillaries. This significantly reduces the oxygen supply to the tissues and the cells in the body begin to experience oxygen starvation. This adversely affects the state of health and, consequently, the analysis.
Biochemical analysis
Alcohol should not be drunk during blood tests, although an analysis of the biochemical composition of the plasma should be performed. This data is needed by the physician to obtain information on the normal functioning of the kidneys, liver, heart and other important organs.
Indicators of a biochemical blood test include studies of enzymes, proteins, hormones, electrolytes, glucose, potassium, sodium, chlorine, carbon dioxide and other substances. Excessive or accidental consumption can lead to an imbalance in the acid-base balance and change the level of all indicators, which will affect the results of the analysis.
Drinking alcohol negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, if the doctor prescribes tests aimed at diagnosing his work, the results will be negative. For example, if we talk about how alcohol affects total cholesterol (necessary to create brain tissues, nerve cells, hormones), alcohol increases its level in the blood no less than animal fats.
Although the body needs cholesterol, its excess amount can cause heart disease, as it is the cause of atherosclerosis.
Another type of blood test that is heavily influenced by alcohol consumption are tests that check liver function. Basically, they measure whether the enzymes it produces have deviated from the norm. Their number after alcohol can be increased or decreased, depending on the state of the liver.
After drinking alcohol, the level of ammonia in the blood increases, which is the end product of protein metabolism. It then enters the liver through the portal vein, where it is converted into urea. The level of this toxic substance greatly affects the acid-base balance and brain function. Drinking alcohol increases the amount of this toxin in the blood and poisons the tissues.
Hormones and alcohol
If a person drinks alcohol before taking a blood test for hormones, the result will be unreliable. The fact is that hormones are chemicals that control and coordinate the activity of all tissues and organs. Each of them is secreted by a certain gland and, after entering the bloodstream, is directed to the target cell.
In order for the hormonal system to function normally and the tissues to respond correctly, the amount of hormones in the blood must be constantly normal. Drinking alcohol significantly disrupts the activity of the hormone-producing glands, negatively impacting your health. That is why if a person drinks before donating blood, the work of the hormonal system will be disrupted, which will be reflected in the test results. Therefore, answering the question of whether it is possible to drink alcohol before donating blood for hormones, the answer is no.
An example of alcohol's effect on the hormonal system is its effect on sex hormones. Among them, the most important are two groups of hormones: androgens and estrogens. These hormones affect puberty and various manifestations of secondary and primary sexual characteristics in men and women (hair growth, breast development, menstruation, fertility).
Alcohol has a negative effect on all these processes, which affects the results of the analysis, and it is the answer, it is possible to drink alcohol before donating blood. If you drink alcohol constantly, impotence and infertility often develop.
alcohol and glucose
If you have to donate blood for sugar (glucose), then you should know that although it is not a hormone, it clearly shows whether two other hormones, insulin and glucagon, produced by the pancreas, are doing their job. The fact is that glucose is the main source of energy in the body, thanks to which cells can grow and develop.
Hormones in the pancreas, as well as the adrenal and pituitary glands, regulate and maintain normal blood glucose levels. For example, insulin's job is to deliver glucose to every cell in the body. Its work is particularly important for the activity of the brain, since it does not store glucose, but it completely depends on the supply of this substance by the blood.
Alcohol disrupts the activity of all these glands, as a result of which glucose metabolism slows down and its level is below normal. But there can also be a leap in the big direction. For example, in chronic alcoholics, on the contrary, the level of glucose in the blood increases, which causes a decrease in the susceptibility of insulin receptors.
In any case, the deviation of sugar from the norm is an alarming sign. That is why if a person donates blood for sugar after drinking alcohol, the doctor may suspect they have diabetes.
When it is allowed to take
Therefore, it is obvious that alcohol, having a negative impact on the work of many organs and systems, is the reason why the blood test gives negative results, causing the doctor to sound the alarm. How long it takes the body to make it work depends on:
- how much time has passed since the last dose taken;
- how much the person drank;
- How much do you drink in general?
If it was a glass of wine, you can donate blood for a general analysis in one day. If it is necessary to pass a biochemical or other analysis that requires more thorough preparation, it is allowed to move on to the analysis after three days. In case of taking a serious dose of alcohol, it is necessary to hold out for a longer period before testing. To get the most accurate data, it is best to wait two weeks.