{{See also|Preoperative fasting|Body cleansing|Nothing by mouth}}
Fasting is often practiced prior to surgery or other procedures that require [[general anestheticanesthesia]]s because of the risk of [[pulmonary aspiration]] of gastric contents after induction of anesthesia (i.e., vomiting and inhaling the vomit, causing life-threatening [[aspiration pneumonia]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/story?id=7161746&page=1 |title=Do You Need to Starve Before Surgery? – ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2009-03-25 |accessdate=2010-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Norman |first=Dr |url=http://www.abc.net.au/health/minutes/stories/2004/06/17/1137544.htm |title=Fasting before surgery – Health & Wellbeing |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2003-04-17 |accessdate=2010-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yestheyrefake.net/anesthesia_full.htm |title=Anesthesia Information (full edition) | From Yes They're Fake! |publisher=Yestheyrefake.net |date=1994-01-01 |accessdate=2010-10-18 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112015650/http://www.yestheyrefake.net/anesthesia_full.htm |archivedate=2010-11-12 |df= }}</ref> Additionally, certain medical tests, such as [[cholesterol]] testing ([[lipid panel]]) or certain [[blood glucose]] measurements require fasting for several hours so that a [[baseline (medicine)|baseline]] can be established. In the case of a lipid panel, failure to fast for a full 12 hours (including vitamins) will guarantee an elevated [[triglyceride]] measurement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reducetriglycerides.com/lower_triglycerides_print.htm |title=Lowering High TRIGLYCERIDES and Raising HDL Naturally – Full of Health Inc |publisher=Reducetriglycerides.com |accessdate=2010-10-18}}</ref>