Title: We Asked Nurses and Phlebotomists How to Make Blood Tests Easier | SELF
Headings: We Asked Nurses and Phlebotomists How to Make Blood Tests Less Miserable
We Asked Nurses and Phlebotomists How to Make Blood Tests Less Miserable
Unfortunately, freaking out when you get your blood drawn can actually make the whole thing even worse.
1. Don’t look at that arm.
2. It sounds simple, but remember to breathe.
3. Ask how long it’s going to take, then count down from (or up to) that number.
4. Strike up a conversation with the person drawing your blood.
5. Let your provider know if you have notoriously hard-to-find veins.
6. Drink plenty of water in advance if you can.
7. Ask if you can bring someone for moral support.
8. Wear extra warm clothes to your appointment.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask them to distract you.
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Content: Given that nurses and phlebotomists draw blood all the time, we pumped them for their best tips on making blood tests as pain-free—and faint-free—as possible. 1. Don’t look at that arm. You know which arm we’re talking about. Unless watching blood leave your body is fun for you, give your arm some privacy. “ I don’t even watch when I get my own blood drawn,” Cartledge says. Watching it all go down might cause something called vasovagal syncope. Basically, your system overreacts to catching such an unusual sight that your heart rate and blood pressure drop suddenly, reducing the amount of blood flow to your brain and ultimately causing you to pass out, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can make this all way less likely if you avert your gaze, Richards says. 2.