Why You Shouldn't Lie To Your Doctor About Fasting Before Surgery

There are a lot of things to remember when preparing for surgery. Your doctor will likely give you a list of things to do the day before, like getting a good night's rest and figuring out who will pick you up when the procedure is over. In many cases, your doctor will also tell you to fast, or abstain from food and sometimes liquids, for a set period of time before surgery. This can be a difficult task to follow, but it is crucial that you are honest with your doctor if you do end up eating or drinking anything (via Insider).

"Typically, many anesthesiologists will cancel your surgery if you haven't fasted before. The reason for this is that if you're sedated on a full stomach, you're at a higher risk for vomiting and could potentially choke on it, which leads to complications," said Dr. Caesar Djavaherian, chief medical officer and co-founder at Carbon Health. While rescheduling a surgery can be frustrating, it is better than risking your health and safety during a procedure.

Surgery prep isn't the only time you need to be honest with your doctor. Unfortunately, it is very common for people to stretch the truth during medical appointments. A 2018 study published by Jama Network found that 80% of participants said they hid some information from their physician at some point. There were a few different reasons for this, but the main reason pointed out was that patients didn't want to be judged by their doctors for unhealthy behaviors.

However, physicians say that this fear shouldn't be a cause of concern for patients. "The doctor-patient relationship should be a no-embarrassment zone where you feel comfortable to be completely honest," Michael F. Roizen, MD, told Today. "If you don't tell your doctor everything, [they] can't help you." Your doctor is a professional who has the tools and knowledge to help you create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you feel like you can't be completely honest with your healthcare provider, you may want to consider switching physicians if possible.