What happens before your appointment

Before your appointment, your symptoms, history, medications and goals are collected in advance, and you receive preparation instructions: no alcohol for 24 hours, no caffeine or nicotine that morning, and an overnight fast if metabolic rate or laboratory work is in the plan.

Collecting the history beforehand means the appointment itself is spent measuring rather than typing.

What information is collected before your appointment?

Symptoms, in your own words, and how long they have been going on.
Past medical history and previous procedures.
Family history — particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and cancer.
Social history, including alcohol and tobacco.
Every medication and supplement, with dose and timing.
What you are hoping the assessment will answer.

That last item shapes the plan more than anything else on the list. How a testing plan is chosen.

What should you tell us before your appointment?

Four in particular, because each one changes what is done.

A pacemaker, implanted defibrillator or other implanted electrical device. Bioimpedance is generally avoided and the rest of the assessment proceeds normally.
Pregnancy. Several assessments are adjusted.
Neck problems, recent eye surgery or retinal disease. Positional balance testing and the controlled-exhale maneuver are adapted or omitted.
Mobility limitations. Parts of the assessment involve standing from lying down; we plan around it rather than being surprised by it.

How should you prepare for your appointment?

No alcohol for 24 hours — it changes heart rate variability measurably.
Keep to your usual sleep, and avoid unusually heavy exercise the day before.
Fast overnight if metabolic rate measurement or laboratory work is in the plan. Water is allowed and encouraged.
No caffeine and no nicotine on the morning of the appointment either way.
Do not stop any medication unless you are specifically told to. Bring the list instead.

What should you bring to your appointment?

Identification and insurance card, the medication and supplement list, any recent laboratory results, your glasses and hearing aids, and the name and address of the clinician who should receive the report. Wear clothing that pushes above the elbow and rolls above the knee, and bring socks you can take off.

Why does test preparation matter so much?

Because a measurement taken under unrecorded conditions cannot be compared with anything. The instructions exist so the number you get today is comparable with the number you get in a year. If you slip up, say so — the answer gets recorded and the result is interpreted accordingly. Full preparation instructions.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to fast before my appointment?

Fast overnight if metabolic rate measurement or laboratory work is in your plan. You will be told in your preparation instructions whether it is. Water is allowed and encouraged during the fast. Either way, skip caffeine and nicotine on the morning of the appointment and avoid alcohol for the 24 hours before.

Can I drink coffee before my appointment?

No. Skip caffeine on the morning of the appointment, whether or not you are fasting, and skip nicotine as well. The preparation instructions exist so the number you get today can be compared with the number you get in a year.

Should I take my usual medications before the appointment?

Yes, unless you are specifically told to stop one before the visit. Do not stop any medication on your own. Bring a complete list of every medication and supplement, with dose and timing.

What if I accidentally ate or had coffee before the appointment?

Say so. The answer is recorded and the result is interpreted with it in mind. A measurement taken under unrecorded conditions cannot be compared with anything, so an honest note about what happened that morning is far more useful than a reading that looks clean but is not.