Questions patients genuinely ask.

No. Most routine blood tests do not require fasting. Fasting is only needed for selected tests or when your clinician specifically requests it. If you have not been told to fast, do not assume that you should.

Follow the exact instructions given for your test. In general, a fasting blood test means no food and no drinks other than plain water for the stated period, often overnight. Do not extend the fast unnecessarily.

Usually yes, and being normally hydrated can make blood collection easier. Plain water does not usually break a laboratory fast. If your test has special restrictions, follow the instructions you were given.

For a true fasting sample, avoid coffee, tea, sweetened or unsweetened drinks other than water, chewing gum, smoking and vaping until the sample is taken. These can alter physiology or interfere with the purpose of the fast.

Do not stop prescribed medicine on your own. Most medicines are continued, but some tests require special timing or temporary adjustment. Diabetes medicines, thyroid treatment, anticoagulants, steroid therapy and therapeutic drug-level testing are examples where timing can matter. Ask us if you are unsure.

Yes. Alcohol can change glucose, triglycerides, liver enzymes, hydration and other measurements. Avoid heavy drinking before testing, and if a test is intended to assess alcohol-related effects, tell the clinician honestly so the result can be interpreted correctly.

Yes. Unusually strenuous exercise can temporarily alter markers such as creatine kinase, AST, lactate, white-cell count and some metabolic measurements. For a routine health check, avoid an unusually intense workout shortly before sampling unless exercise is part of what is being assessed.

Sometimes. Some hormones and drug levels vary with time of day or with the timing of the last dose. Cortisol, testosterone and therapeutic drug monitoring are common examples. If timing is important, your request or clinician should specify it.

Yes for most tests. Menstruation does not prevent routine blood sampling. However, it can influence haemoglobin or iron measurements if bleeding is heavy, and reproductive hormone tests may need to be performed on a particular cycle day.

Tell us before the sample is taken. We can take blood while you are lying down and allow extra recovery time. Arrive normally hydrated unless you have been given a fluid restriction.

Keep firm pressure on the puncture site for several minutes and avoid immediately lifting heavy objects with that arm. A small bruise can occur even after an uncomplicated blood draw and usually settles on its own.

Not necessarily. Reference ranges describe where most results fall in a defined population; healthy people can occasionally sit just outside them. Interpretation depends on symptoms, previous results, medications, age, pregnancy, hydration and the pattern of the other tests. A result should be interpreted clinically, not in isolation.

There is no single useful panel called 'all blood tests'. Testing should be selected according to age, symptoms, risk factors, medicines and the clinical question. Ordering everything can create false alarms without improving health.

Yes. High-dose biotin and some other supplements can interfere with certain laboratory assays. Bring a list or photo of all supplements you use, including hair/nail products and high-dose vitamins, and follow any test-specific instructions from the laboratory.

Unless Healthway gives you different instructions for your specific scan, plan to fast for about 6 hours beforehand. Do not eat during that period. Small amounts of clear, non-fizzy fluid are generally acceptable, and usual prescribed medicines can normally be taken with a little water.

Eating makes the gallbladder contract and can increase bowel gas. Fasting improves the chance of seeing the gallbladder, liver, pancreas and nearby structures clearly.

If you have been asked to fast, avoid coffee, milk, fizzy drinks and alcohol. Small amounts of clear non-fizzy fluid are usually acceptable unless your appointment instructions say otherwise.

Usually yes, with a small amount of water. Do not omit important medicines without medical advice. If you have diabetes or a medicine that must be taken with food, contact us in advance so the preparation can be made safe.

Do not undertake a prolonged fast that could make your diabetes unsafe. Tell the clinic when booking so an early appointment and an individual plan for food and diabetes medication can be arranged.

A full bladder usually improves the view. Unless told otherwise, drink approximately 500 mL to 1 litre of water in the hour before the scan and try not to empty your bladder. If it becomes painful or you cannot hold it, tell us.

Usually no. A transvaginal scan is generally performed with the bladder emptied. If both transabdominal and transvaginal imaging are planned, you may first be scanned with a full bladder and then asked to empty it.

Usually yes. Menstruation does not automatically prevent either transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound. For some specific questions—such as endometrial assessment, follicle monitoring or fertility work-up—the preferred cycle day may matter.

It should not normally be painful, although mild pressure or discomfort can occur. The scan is performed only with your consent. Tell the clinician immediately if you are uncomfortable or want the examination to stop.

A full bladder is commonly required. A typical instruction is to finish drinking around 1 litre of water about an hour before the appointment and avoid urinating until after the initial images, unless that is uncomfortable or medically difficult for you.

Diagnostic ultrasound uses sound waves rather than ionising radiation. It is widely used in pregnancy when medically indicated. The examination should still be performed for an appropriate clinical reason and by trained personnel.

Contact the clinic rather than guessing. The scan may still be useful, or we may need to delay or reschedule it so that image quality is not compromised.

No. Ultrasound is excellent for many organs and conditions, but bowel gas, body habitus, depth and the nature of the abnormality can limit what is visible. Sometimes CT, MRI, endoscopy or another test is more appropriate.

A mild illness such as a minor cold is usually not a reason to delay vaccination. Moderate or severe acute illness, with or without fever, may be a reason to postpone until you improve. The decision depends on the vaccine and your clinical condition.

Usually yes. Antibiotics used for a mild bacterial illness do not generally stop vaccines from working. The important issue is how unwell you are, not simply whether you are taking an antibiotic.

Usually no. For most vaccine series, an extended interval does not mean restarting from dose one. The missing dose is generally given and the series continued according to the appropriate catch-up schedule.

Often yes. Many vaccines can safely be administered during the same visit at different injection sites. Some live vaccines have specific timing rules if they are not given on the same day, so the schedule should be checked.

Common short-lived effects include soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle aches and sometimes fever. The pattern varies by vaccine. Severe allergic reactions are rare.

Difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, collapse, severe wheezing, widespread hives with systemic symptoms, or another rapidly progressive severe reaction requires emergency assessment. In Malta, call 112 for a life-threatening emergency.

Inactivated and non-live vaccines cannot cause the infection they protect against. Live attenuated vaccines contain weakened organisms and have specific precautions, particularly in pregnancy and significant immunosuppression.

High-quality research has not shown a causal link between vaccines and autism. Vaccine safety continues to be monitored after approval, and safety signals are investigated through national and international surveillance systems.

Some vaccines are specifically recommended in pregnancy, while live vaccines are generally avoided. The correct answer depends on the vaccine, gestational stage, travel or exposure risk and medical history. Pregnancy should always be mentioned before vaccination.

Tell the clinician before vaccination. Inactivated vaccines may still be appropriate, although the immune response can be reduced. Some live vaccines may be contraindicated or need specialist timing around immunosuppressive treatment.

Bring any records you can find, including photos, childhood booklets, occupational records and travel certificates. If documentation remains incomplete, a clinician can decide whether catch-up vaccination, serology or another approach is appropriate.

Ideally, arrange a travel-health review several weeks before departure because some vaccines require more than one dose or time for immunity to develop. Even a last-minute consultation can still be worthwhile because some protection and other travel advice can be provided.

If you feel well, normal light-to-moderate activity is generally reasonable. If you have fever, significant arm pain, dizziness or feel unwell, rest and resume activity when you recover.

Adults continue to need vaccination according to age, medical conditions, occupation, pregnancy, travel and previous immunisation. Childhood vaccination does not automatically provide every protection needed later in life.

No. There is no safe level of tobacco exposure. Even low levels of smoking increase cardiovascular and cancer risk compared with not smoking.

No. E-cigarettes can maintain nicotine dependence and expose the lungs to aerosols containing potentially harmful substances. A person who smokes should not assume that adding vaping to smoking makes the combination safe. The healthiest endpoint is not smoking tobacco.

No. Water does not remove the major toxic effects of tobacco smoke. A long shisha session can involve substantial smoke exposure as well as nicotine, carbon monoxide and other toxic substances.

Yes. Second-hand tobacco smoke causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease and lung cancer in non-smokers. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke exposure.

Nicotine replacement provides nicotine without the toxic combustion products in cigarette smoke and can be used as a treatment to help people stop smoking. It is generally far less harmful than continued smoking and is often more effective when combined with behavioural support.

Some people notice increased cough or sputum for a period after quitting as airway clearance changes. Persistent cough, coughing blood, chest pain, breathlessness or unexplained weight loss should be medically assessed.

Some people gain weight after quitting, but the amount varies and the health benefit of stopping smoking is much greater than the risk from modest weight gain. Nutrition, activity and structured cessation support can help.

Yes. Smoking can affect some physiological measurements, and smoking during a fasting period is best avoided. For abdominal ultrasound, smoking can also increase swallowed air and bowel gas, which may reduce image quality.

Yes. Stopping smoking provides health benefits at any age and reduces future cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer risk compared with continuing to smoke.

No level of alcohol exposure can be described as completely risk-free for health. Risk generally rises with the amount and frequency consumed. If you do not drink, there is no health reason to start.

Alcohol should not be prescribed or started for cardiovascular health. Any potentially favourable associations seen in observational studies do not cancel alcohol's established risks, including several cancers, liver disease, injuries and dependence.

Heavy episodic drinking creates additional acute risks such as injury, impaired judgment, vomiting, arrhythmia and alcohol poisoning. Overall long-term risk also depends on total exposure, so neither a binge pattern nor frequent high intake should be considered safe.

Yes. Alcohol is a recognised carcinogen and is linked with several cancers. Cancer risk increases as alcohol exposure increases.

This can be dangerous. Alcohol combined with opioids, benzodiazepines or other sedatives can markedly increase sedation and suppress breathing. Do not mix them unless a prescriber has specifically advised that your medicine is compatible with alcohol.

No. Alcohol is not compatible with a fasting blood test and should be avoided before a fasting abdominal ultrasound. It can also change several laboratory measurements.

Warning signs include difficulty controlling the amount, strong craving, increasing tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, drinking despite medical or social harm, neglecting responsibilities, or repeatedly failing to cut down. Dependence is a medical condition and treatment is available.

Not always. In someone who is physically dependent, abrupt alcohol cessation can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures and delirium. A person with heavy daily use, morning drinking, previous withdrawal, seizures or delirium should seek medical advice before attempting an unsupervised detox.

IV fluid can treat dehydration when clinically indicated, but it does not make the liver metabolise alcohol dramatically faster and it does not prevent dangerous alcohol withdrawal. Severe intoxication or withdrawal requires proper medical assessment, not a cosmetic 'detox'.

The safest approach during pregnancy is not to drink alcohol. Alcohol crosses the placenta, and there is no established amount that can be guaranteed to be harmless to the developing fetus.

No. Substance-use disorders are health conditions involving changes in reward, motivation, behaviour and control. Personal responsibility still matters, but shame and punishment alone are poor treatment strategies. Evidence-based treatment and ongoing support can help people recover.

A person may be impossible to wake, have very slow or shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, blue/grey lips or fingertips, and very small pupils. Treat suspected opioid overdose as a medical emergency.

Call 112 immediately. Give naloxone if it is available and you know how to use it, support breathing according to your training, place the person on their side if they are breathing but unconscious, and stay with them until emergency help arrives.

Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses the effects of opioids and can restore breathing during an opioid overdose. It does not treat intoxication from every other drug, but if opioid exposure is possible, giving naloxone can be lifesaving.

All can depress the central nervous system. In combination they can produce profound sedation and suppress breathing, increasing the risk of fatal overdose.

No. Illicit tablets can contain a different dose or a completely different drug from what is printed on them, including potent synthetic opioids. Appearance cannot confirm content or safety.

Yes. Cocaine and other stimulants can sharply increase heart rate and blood pressure and can trigger arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, seizures and severe agitation even in people without known heart disease.

No. Cannabis can impair attention, reaction time and driving; can worsen anxiety or panic in some people; and high-potency use is associated with a higher risk of psychotic symptoms in susceptible individuals. 'Natural' does not mean risk-free.

Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that has been found in parts of the illicit drug supply, often with opioids. It can deepen sedation, contribute to breathing and circulation problems, and is associated with severe skin wounds. Naloxone does not reverse xylazine itself, but should still be given when opioid exposure may also be present.

Do not stop long-term benzodiazepine treatment abruptly without medical advice. Withdrawal can be severe and, in some circumstances, may include seizures. A gradual, individualised reduction is usually safer.

Yes. A useful consultation can start with reducing immediate risk, checking physical and mental health, reviewing interactions, preventing overdose and discussing treatment options without demanding perfection on day one.

Anxiety is a normal response to threat or uncertainty. It becomes more concerning when it is persistent, disproportionate, difficult to control, causes marked physical symptoms, or interferes with work, relationships, sleep or daily functioning.

Yes. Panic can cause chest tightness, palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness and tingling. However, new or severe chest pain, fainting, persistent shortness of breath, exertional symptoms or significant cardiovascular risk should not automatically be labelled 'anxiety'. Seek urgent assessment when the diagnosis is uncertain.

No. Depression can involve persistent low mood or loss of interest together with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, self-worth and functioning. Some people feel numb or irritable rather than obviously sad.

Immediate risk of self-harm or harm to others, severe psychosis, extreme agitation, inability to care for basic needs, severe confusion, or dangerous behaviour requires urgent assessment. In a life-threatening emergency in Malta, call 112.

Take it seriously. Stay with the person if there is immediate risk, seek urgent professional help, and call 112 if there is imminent danger or a life-threatening situation. Do not dismiss the statement as attention-seeking.

Possible features include hallucinations, fixed false beliefs, severe suspiciousness, disorganised thinking or behaviour, and a marked loss of contact with reality. Sudden-onset psychosis can also have medical or substance-related causes and needs prompt assessment.

Markedly reduced need for sleep, unusually elevated or irritable mood, very rapid speech, racing thoughts, impulsive spending or risk-taking, grandiose ideas and major behavioural change can occur in mania. Severe symptoms, psychosis or unsafe behaviour require urgent assessment.

Antidepressants do not usually produce craving and compulsive drug-seeking in the way addictive sedatives or opioids can. However, stopping some antidepressants abruptly can cause discontinuation symptoms, so dose reduction should usually be planned with the prescriber.

They can be useful in selected situations, but regular long-term use carries risks including tolerance, dependence, sedation, falls and withdrawal. Long-term anxiety management often relies more on psychological therapy and/or non-benzodiazepine medication when appropriate.

Yes. Sleep and mental health influence each other in both directions. Persistent insomnia can worsen concentration, emotional regulation and distress, while anxiety, depression, alcohol and several medical conditions can disrupt sleep.

Alcohol may make you fall asleep faster, but it often fragments sleep later in the night and can worsen snoring, sleep-disordered breathing and next-day fatigue. It is not a good treatment for insomnia.

Seek assessment when sleep difficulty persists for weeks to months, causes significant daytime impairment, or is accompanied by loud snoring, witnessed apnoeas, restless legs, severe mood symptoms, substance use, or dangerous daytime sleepiness.

Yes. Stress and anxiety can produce real physical symptoms through autonomic, muscular and hormonal pathways. However, physical symptoms still deserve appropriate medical assessment before being attributed to stress, especially when they are new, severe or progressive.

No. Antibiotics treat susceptible bacteria, not viruses. Using antibiotics when they are not needed can cause side effects and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.

Take antibiotics exactly for the dose and duration that were prescribed. Do not stop early, extend the course, or keep taking leftovers based on your own judgement. If you are improving quickly, having side effects, or think the diagnosis was wrong, contact the prescriber rather than changing the course yourself.

No. The next illness may not be bacterial, may need a different antibiotic or dose, or may require medical assessment. Sharing antibiotics also obscures allergies, interactions and resistance risk.

The correct action depends on the medicine and how late the dose is. Check the patient leaflet or ask a pharmacist or clinician. Do not automatically double the next dose.

No. Supplements can cause toxicity, interact with medicines and interfere with laboratory tests. Tell your clinician about vitamins, herbal products, gym supplements and over-the-counter products—not only prescription medicines.

Do not assume it is safe. NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk and may also affect the stomach, kidneys and blood pressure. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist before combining them with anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines.

Not without reviewing the reason it was prescribed. Feeling better may mean the treatment is working. Some medicines can also cause rebound or withdrawal problems if stopped abruptly.

A current list helps prevent interactions, duplicate therapy and dosing errors. Include prescription medicines, inhalers, injections, contraception, eye drops, supplements and allergies. A photo of the boxes or medication screen is often useful.

Yes. Some medicines are safe, some need dose adjustment, and some should be avoided or replaced. Do not stop essential treatment automatically because of pregnancy; ask for a medication review.

Usually not. Pain, anxiety, caffeine, exercise, an incorrect cuff size and other factors can temporarily raise blood pressure. Diagnosis normally relies on repeated properly taken measurements, often including home or ambulatory readings.

Yes. Hypertension is often asymptomatic, which is why measurement matters. Feeling well does not prove that blood pressure is normal.

There is no single interval that is right for everyone. The useful frequency depends on age, family history, smoking, blood pressure, weight, medications, pregnancy plans, vaccination history and previous abnormal results. Preventive care should be targeted rather than a ritual annual battery of tests.

No. Screening is offered to people without symptoms to identify higher risk or early disease. Diagnostic testing investigates a symptom, sign or abnormal screening result. If you have symptoms, do not wait for a routine screening interval.

Wash your hands, begin urinating into the toilet, then collect the middle part of the stream in the sterile container without touching the inside. Finish urinating into the toilet. Deliver the sample promptly according to the clinic's instructions.

Only if you have been given the correct sterile container and collection instructions. Some tests need a fresh sample, refrigeration, preservative or a specific volume. Ask before collecting so the sample is not rejected.

Possible heart attack or stroke, severe difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, major bleeding, severe allergic reaction, seizure, severe trauma, dangerous overdose, or another immediately life-threatening condition should be treated as an emergency. In Malta, call 112.

Sometimes. A transient symptom can still be important—for example fainting, neurological symptoms, chest pain, blood in urine or stool, or a severe allergic reaction. The need for review depends on what happened, your risk factors and whether it has recurred.

Family history can change the probability of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers, thrombosis and inherited conditions. The most useful details are the condition, which relative had it, and approximately what age it occurred.

Home devices can be useful for trends and may detect abnormalities, but they are not a complete diagnosis. Abnormal or concerning readings should be interpreted in context, and emergency symptoms should never be delayed because a wearable looks 'normal'.

Bring identification if needed, a current medication and allergy list, relevant reports or scans, vaccination records when applicable, and a short note of your main symptoms and when they started. For health screening or travel medicine, bring the relevant official documents and itinerary as well.

The website tools are designed to help you prepare and understand likely requirements, not to diagnose disease or certify that a treatment, vaccine or travel plan is appropriate for you. Use the calculators as decision support and arrange clinical review when individual assessment matters.