An insurance agent often requires that you get a medical exam to obtain the best policy possible. While paramedical exams can wrack your nerves, you can do a few things to prepare for them.
You might think you know what to do before a life insurance exam in Houston, TX. However, the list of ‘don’ts’ might surprise you.
Our professionals at Medical Profiles Inc. created a list of activities you should avoid before your exam. Some seem obvious, while others might catch you off guard.
Consume Caffeine
While one cup of coffee probably won’t harm your results, drinking caffeine all day can give false readings. This is because caffeine acts as a stimulant. As such, it increases your heart rate and causes false readings during an exam.
You should allow enough space between your cup of coffee and exam appointment to keep readings accurate. Generally, a medical professional highly recommends that you abstain for 24 hours. Doing so reduces the number of stress hormones in your system.
Eat When Directed Not To
Some life insurance policies require blood tests during a paramedical exam. Follow any dietary instructions given by your provider to ensure accurate results. Eating before giving a blood sample increases your glucose and triglyceride readings.
When a testing center asks you to fast for sample tests, follow the directions to the letter. Otherwise, you risk a misdiagnosis with prediabetes or diabetes. Both results can cause insurance companies to deny your application or give more expensive premiums.
Perform Strenuous Exercise
Exercise gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping. It also burns calories and uses energy from your food. So you may think it counterproductive to avoid doing heavy exercise just before your exam.
However, strenuous exercise can cause certain proteins to appear in urine samples. While the presence of such proteins is normal after exercise, it indicates kidney issues under other circumstances. Thus, you’ll get a nerve-wracking misdiagnosis and a more expensive insurance policy.
Use Tobacco or Nicotine Products
While this tip seems obvious, many misconceptions circulate about how nicotine products affect the body. While many realize that tobacco products carry life and health risks, they still think activities like vaping have few consequences.
However, vape products still carry nicotine. Any form of nicotine acts as a stimulant and spikes your blood pressure. Therefore, avoid using all nicotine products before your exam.
You can’t trick a medical examiner into believing you don’t smoke or vape. Your test results will show the truth about your usage. However, you can steer clear of expenses related to high blood pressure.
Consume Unhealthy Food
Take foods high in sodium, added sugars, and trans fats off the menu until after your paramedical exam. Foods high in these ingredients raise cortisol levels, increase blood pressure, and spike insulin responses. Salty foods can also cause dehydration and result in inaccurate readings of how your kidney functions.
Lay off snack cakes, chips, and cookies for at least 24 hours before your examination. Other sneakier culprits include packaged or processed meals that you put in the microwave. Opting for whole foods provides the safest option as you prepare for your life insurance exam in Houston, TX.
Schedule a Convenient Life Insurance Exam in Houston, TX
When you choose our professionals at Medical Profiles Inc., you choose an expedited application process that puts your needs first. A life insurance exam in Houston, TX, allows you to take the power into your own hands. Discover a plethora of life insurance options when you schedule your convenient paramedical exam with us at (832) 251-3926.
