Not eating for a few hours before undergoing gastroscopy

Eating should be stopped 8 hours before gastroscopy, and drinking water should be stopped 4 hours to ensure gastric emptying, avoid food residue affecting observation results during examination, and reduce the risk of vomiting and aspiration. The fasting and water deprivation time before gastroscopy directly affects the accuracy and safety of the examination, and must be strictly observed.

1. The necessity of fasting and water restriction before gastroscopy examination. Gastroscopy requires observing the condition of the stomach through endoscopy. If there is food residue in the stomach, it will obstruct the view and affect the doctor's judgment of the lesion. At the same time, increased gastric acid secretion after eating may cause nausea, vomiting, and even aspiration, increasing the risk of examination. Fasting and abstaining from water can help reduce the occurrence of these adverse conditions.

2. Specific time schedule for fasting and water restriction. It is generally recommended to stop eating 8 hours before gastroscopy and stop drinking water 4 hours before. For morning check ups, do not eat after dinner the day before and do not drink water in the morning of the day of the check; For afternoon check ups, no more eating after breakfast and no drinking before noon. The specific time can be adjusted according to hospital requirements and individual circumstances.

3. Precautions for special populations. Diabetes patients need to monitor blood glucose during fasting, and consult doctors to adjust medication if necessary; Elderly or physically weaker individuals should avoid prolonged fasting and can communicate with their doctors in advance to arrange examination times; Pregnant women should carefully choose gastroscopy examination and, if necessary, undergo it under the guidance of a doctor.

4. Other preparations before inspection. In addition to fasting and water restriction, anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin and warfarin should be stopped before the examination to reduce the risk of bleeding; Wear loose clothing for easy inspection and operation; Bring past examination reports and medical records for doctors' reference. On the day of the inspection, family members must accompany to ensure safety.

5. Dietary recommendations after examination. Do not eat within 2 hours after gastroscopy. Drink a small amount of water after the anesthesia of throat disappears. If there is no discomfort, gradually resume light diet, such as rice porridge, noodles, etc. Avoid spicy and greasy foods to prevent irritation of the gastric mucosa. Strictly adhering to the fasting and water restriction time before gastroscopy examination is the key to ensuring the smooth progress of the examination and accurate results. Before and after the examination, attention should be paid to dietary adjustments and physical condition. Special populations should communicate with doctors in advance and make sufficient preparations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the examination.