Few Stress Reduction Techniques While Giving Blood Test

Few Stress Reduction Techniques While Giving Blood Test

1. Breathe deeply.If you are having a hard time with the idea of getting your blood drawn, you need to relax. Take a deep breath and focus all of your attention on breathing. Deep breathing activates the body’s relaxation response. Inhale slowly to the count of four and then exhale slowly to the count of eight.
2. Accept that you are anxious.Anxiety is just a feeling like any other feeling. Feelings only have control when you give them control. When you accept that you are anxious you take the power away from the feeling. If you try to get rid of the feeling it becomes overwhelming.
3. Recognize that your mind is playing tricks on you.Anxiety is a trick of the mind that has real physical consequences. Enough anxiety can produce a panic attack, which can mimic a heart attack. When you understand that your anxiety, no matter how little or big, is little more than a trick of the mind it helps reduce the pressure and responsibility of caring for yoursel
4. Ask yourselfWhen you are anxious, ask yourself several questions to determine exactly how bad the situation really is. Anxiety can increase the number of outrageous ideas you’re having while asking yourself specific questions that require realistic answers can increase your awareness. Ask yourself questions such as:

• What is the worst thing that can happen when they draw my blood?
• Is what I’m worried about realistic? Can it really happen to me?
• What is the likelihood that the worst thing will happen?

5. Use positive self-talk.You will hear what you say to yourself, even when you don’t think that you do. Talking out loud and repeating that you are strong, can handle the situation, and that nothing bad will happen will help to reduce your feelings of anxiety
6. Eat a snack.If you were required to fast prior to the blood test, you’ll want to bring a snack for after the test. Also bring a bottle of water and a snack that doesn’t require refrigeration. This will tide you over until you are able to eat a meal.

• Peanut butter crackers, a peanut butter sandwich, a handful of almonds or walnuts, or whey protein are all easy to transport and will give you some protein and calories until you can get a meal.
• If you forgot to bring anything to eat, ask the staff where you have had blood drawn. They may keep cookies or crackers around for just this purpose.

7. Ask how long you’ll wait for results.Some tests can be finished within 24 hours while others can take a week or more if the blood must be shipped to a special laboratory. Talk with your doctor about the process used to deliver the results of the blood test. In some cases the lab will not notify you if the results are all within normal limits.

• Ask to be notified, even if the results are normal. This will ensure that your results don’t “fall through the cracks” and you aren’t notified if the results are not normal.
• Call the lab 36 to 48 hours after the results should have arrived if you are not notified.
• Ask your Lab if they use an online notification system. You may be given a website to register through so your results can be delivered digitally to you.

8. Know how to react to a bruise.The most common side effect of having blood drawn is a bruise, or hematoma, at the site where the needle went in.[35] The bruise can show up immediately or within 24 hours after the blood was drawn. Some of the factors that contribute to the formation of a hematoma include blood leaking out of the opening when a needle goes through a vein, which leaks into the surrounding tissue. They can also be caused by bleeding disorders or anticoagulant medications, which increases the risk that a bruise or hematoma will occur where the blood is drawn.

• If the bruise is painful, wrap some ice in a cloth and hold it against the area for about 10 minutes.
• To help reduce the chance that you’ll get a bruise, hold firm pressure on the gauze for at least 2 minutes after your blood is drawn.
• Hemophilia is the most well-known bleeding disorder, but it is also fairly rare. It comes in two forms – A & B.
• Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common bleeding disorder, and affects how your blood clots.
• Patients should let their doctor and phlebotomist know they have a bleeding disorder when they get their blood drawn.

9. Discuss hemolysis with the phlebotomist.Hemolysis is a problem with the blood sample and not a complication which you experience. Hemolysis happens when the red blood cells rupture and other components spill into the blood serum. Hemolyzed blood is not acceptable for testing and another blood sample will have to be drawn. Hemolysis is more likely to occur when:

• The tube is mixed vigorously after being removed from the needle.
• Drawing blood from a vein near a hematoma.
• Using a smaller needle which damages the cells as they are drawn into the tube.
• Excessive fist clenching during the blood draw.
• Leaving the tourniquet on for more than one minute.