You need to know about the specific blood tests your doctor is ordering. Some blood tests will require special preparation to get accurate results. Some examples of common blood tests which require special preparation include:  Glucose tolerance tests, which require fasting prior to coming to the lab. You also have to remain at the lab for up to 5 hours and your blood is taken every 30 to 60 minutes. Fasting Glucose test, which is done after you have not eaten or had anything to drink except water for 8 to 12 hours. These tests are often first thing in the morning so you aren’t asked to go without eating all day. Serum Lipid testing, also called a cholesterol test, which will sometimes require you to fast for 9 to 12 hours before the test.  Cortisol blood test, where you are asked to refrain from exercising the day before, lie down for 30 minutes before the test, and refrain from eating or drinking for 1 hour before the test. There are certain substances that can alter blood tests, which you may need to stop before your blood test. Prescription medications, recreational drugs, alcohol intake, vitamins, blood thinners, or over-the-counter medications can often change the results of a blood test, depending on what the blood test is for. Your physician can determine if you should wait 24 to 48 hours to have the blood work done or if what you have taken will not significantly alter the blood test results. There are some blood tests that can be compromised based on your activities. These tests can be altered by recent physical activity or heavy exercise, undergoing dehydration, smoking, drinking herbal teas, or sexual activity. You might be asked to refrain from some of these activities prior to taking a blood test. Many tests do not require special preparation prior to getting your blood drawn. However, when in doubt, ask. If your physician does not give you any special instructions, it is important that you ask in order to reduce the potential that you arrive for the test without preparing sufficiently. Being sufficiently hydrated makes the blood draw easier. The veins will be bigger and easier to find and the blood is not as thick and flows into the tube easier. If you need to fast from water as well, be sure you are very hydrated from the day before. This may mean needing to get up during the night to urinate. However, being well hydrated will make your blood test easier. Before you get ready to take a blood test, warm the extremity where the blood will be drawn. Use a warm compress over the area for 10 to 15 minutes to improve the blood flow to that area. Wear warmer than normal clothes for the season when you go in to get your blood drawn. This increases your skin temperature, increases the blood flow to the area, and makes it easier for the phlebotomist (the person who draws your blood) to find a good vein. If you deviated from the instructions given to you to prepare for the blood test prior to having your blood drawn, you need to notify the person who will draw your blood when you arrive. If the deviation is significant enough to alter the results of the test, you may have to return to have the blood test drawn another day. Mention if you are allergic to latex or latex sensitive. Latex is in many types of gloves and band-aids, which are used while taking blood. Some people have an allergy or sensitivity to latex which can be life threatening. If you know that you have either an allergy or sensitivity, it is important to notify both your doctor and the phlebotomist so they can use latex-free equipment.
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One-sentence summary -- Talk with your doctor. Discuss your medications. Refrain from certain activities. Ask your doctor for instructions. Drink enough water. Warm your extremities. Talk to the phlebotomist.

Q: You should get an email confirmation shortly after requesting your refund. If you don't receive one within a few hours, you may want to call Steam's help line to check to make sure your refund request was received. Be patient when waiting for your refund. While some refunds are processed quickly, it can take up to a week for your refund to be processed. It may sometimes take longer if Steam got a lot of refund requests around the time you submitted your request. If you get confirmation your refund request was approved, keep an eye on your bank account. Within the next few days, your money should be refunded. If it's not refunded within a week, contact Steam via phone to make sure your banking information is correct.
A: Check your e-mail for a confirmation. Wait a week to hear back about your refund. Check your bank account to make sure the money was refunded.

Article: The best way to reduce uric acid levels is to limit the amounts of purine-rich foods in your diet. Purines are chemicals that form when your body breaks down certain types of food, but a high level of purines can lead to conditions like gout and kidney stones. You should avoid purine-rich foods if you have had gout or uric acid-containing kidney stones or if you have a family history of these conditions. Do not exceed more than two to four servings of any of these foods per week and avoid them completely during a bout with gout or if you have uric-acid-containing kidney stones. Purine-rich foods to limit or avoid include:  Beer and liquor Sugary soft drinks Fatty foods such as fried foods, butter, margarine, and high-fat dairy products Organ meats such as liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads Beef, chicken, pork, bacon, veal, and venison Anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout, haddock, crab, oyster, lobster, and shrimp Phytate is a substance that seems to prevent the formation of many types of kidney stones, including those caused by uric acid. Include two to three servings of phytate-rich foods every day. Phytate-rich foods include:  Beans Legumes Whole grains Make sure that you include calcium-rich foods in your diet, such as low-fat dairy products.  Include one to two servings of calcium rich foods per day. Calcium rich foods include:  Milk Yogurt Cheese Getting enough vitamin C may also help to lower uric acid levels. Try eating a couple servings of foods that are rich in Vitamin C each day or talk to your doctor about including a vitamin C supplement to help lower your uric acid levels.Foods that are rich in vitamin C include:  Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes Kiwi fruit Berries Cantaloupe Pineapple Mango Papaya Broccoli Peppers Sweet and white potatoes Tomatoes Leafy greens such as spinach, cabbage, and turnip greens Cauliflower Winter squash Drinking plenty of water can also help to reduce uric acid in your blood. For most people, the recommended amount is six to eight 8-ounce glasses glasses of water every day. Talk to your doctor for a specific recommendation on how much water you should be drinking every day. Green tea has been shown to decrease the risk of uric acid-containing kidney stones.  Try to drink about two to three cups of green tea per day to help lower your uric acid levels. Tart cherry juice has long been used in naturopathic medicine to treat gout and kidney stones. If you have an attack of gout, drink 3-4, 8-ounce glasses of organic, tart cherry juice. This should provide some relief within 12-24 hours. Eating cherries can also help. Try including a serving of cherries in your diet each day. Drinking coffee in moderation has been shown to decrease uric acid in your blood. Try to include a cup or two of coffee per day to help lower your uric acid levels.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Limit purine-rich foods. Increase your intake of phytate-rich foods. Include dairy products in your diet. Eat vitamin C-rich foods or add a vitamin C supplement. Stay hydrated. Drink green tea. Sip some tart cherry juice. Include a moderate amount of coffee.