Cigarettes and bloodwork

August 9, 2009 10:04 PM

If I smoke a cigarette will it affect my bloodwork?

I'm having some bloodwork done (for a standard physical) at 11am ET. I was told not to eat, etc. I smoke 4-5 cigarettes a week. If I have a cigarette now (10 hours before), will it negatively affect my bloodwork at all?

Male in my twenties, in good health.

posted by j1950 to health & fitness (4 comments total)

No. (I've been practicing medicine for 15 years.)
posted by neuron at 10:30 PM on August 9

The main reason you would be asked not to eat before a blood workup would be if they will be taking a reading on your cholesterol levels.
posted by longsleeves at 10:33 PM on August 9

If you're going to claim you don't smoke and it's an insurance physical, they will test you for cotinine from memory. Which will show up.

If it's just fasting for a blood test that your gp has ordered for your general well-being, then as neuron says, no, it's fine.
posted by taff at 11:12 PM on August 9

The main reason you would be asked not to eat before a blood workup would be if they will be taking a reading on your cholesterol levels.

Just in case anyone cares, fasting doesn't notably impact your HDL/LDL levels. It's your triglyceride levels that elevate after eating and can't be effectively tested w/o fasting.
posted by phearlez at 7:46 AM on August 10