Doctors prescribe blood tests for several reasons, most notably because there are no better indicators of general health than the values and concentrations that can be measured by this test. Unfortunately, for many people, the withdrawal is a nerve-wracking and difficult time to go through. Not only does inserting the needle into the skin and vein cause pain, but the nurse draws blood (sometimes even in considerable quantities) right under your eyes. The positive side is that it is usually a quick procedure and afterwards you have the reassurance of knowing that thanks to your "effort" the doctor can obtain important information about the state of health.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get Prescribed for Analyzes
Step 1. Talk to your doctor
The best person to understand if your symptoms and signs are worth a blood test is the doctor; if you have to perform the analyzes, he prescribes them for you and gives you the referral.
- If you need to take this test, make sure you do it as soon as possible.
- If you are afraid or anxious about the blood sample or the possible results, let your doctor know. He can reassure you - the best way to treat health problems is to diagnose them; the outcomes help to define the most appropriate therapy.
- Remember to pay attention to all the special instructions and the protocol that you have to respect before the collection, discuss with the doctor every detail.
Step 2. Discuss the tests with the nutritionist
The blood test may be needed for non-diagnostic purposes, such as to make sure the diet you are on is suitable for your overall health. In this case, consult a dietician or nutritionist to find out if the concentrations of vitamins and minerals are sufficient or if you suffer from some deficiencies that need to be corrected. You should see a dietician if:
- You're pregnant;
- Your doctor recommends it;
- You are diabetic, suffer from absorption abnormalities and / or food sensitivities or allergies;
- If you are vegetarian, vegan or follow another non-traditional diet.
Step 3. Discuss possible tests with a sports medicine doctor
If you are an athlete, suffer from certain muscle problems or have suffered some type of muscle injury, this doctor may request blood tests which provide you with a lot of information about your musculoskeletal health and potential diseases, such as arthritis. Ultimately, the sports medicine doctor is the most competent individual to decide whether you should perform this test to assess the condition of the musculoskeletal system.
Step 4. See a naturopathic doctor
This health professional uses both natural remedies and traditional medicine to treat a range of conditions. Depending on the reason that prompted you to consult him, he may find it appropriate to perform a blood test to determine the best treatment path. However, remember that only a qualified and certified doctor can request diagnostic tests of this type. Professionals who claim only the title of "naturopath" (and not "naturopathic doctor") do not have a medical degree and therefore are not authorized to issue any prescription. The reasons that may lead the doctor to undergo blood tests are:
- Gluten intolerance;
- Headaches;
- Hormonal imbalance;
- A wide range of other ailments.
Step 5. Undergo tests without a doctor's prescription
Currently, many laboratories increasingly allow patients to undergo blood tests without a prescription. If for some reason you want to do the analyzes "autonomously", you can find a private collection center that can do it without having to present the doctor's referral. For more information contact the local medical laboratory. However, the mere fact that this possibility exists does not mean that you should do it; it is not recommended to undergo such an examination without the supervision of a physician. Consider these factors:
- If you go directly to the laboratory, you do not have a doctor available to interpret the results and prescribe a therapy if necessary. Many values need to be evaluated by a doctor;
- The information you find on the internet is not always credible. You could have your blood sampled and use online sources to understand the results, but it is not a reliable method of assessing your health;
- Even if you are able to understand the results, without a prescription you may not have access to the necessary treatment;
- Some laboratories allow only a few checks to be carried out without a referral;
- This service may not be available in your area.
Part 2 of 3: Undergo the Withdrawal
Step 1. Prepare for withdrawal
Depending on the type of exam your doctor has requested, there are numerous things you can do to prepare yourself that are essential for the diagnostic evaluations that are performed on the sample to be accurate. Here are some suggestions:
- Do not eat or drink anything in the 12 hours preceding the collection;
- Stop using certain medications;
- Respect the preliminary protocol that your doctor has indicated for you.
Step 2. Take the prescription to the hospital or collection center
Once your doctor has determined that testing is necessary, go to the clinic or laboratory that specializes in taking blood and other samples. The healthcare facility may perform the tests directly or send the material to an external laboratory.
Step 3. Give the nurse all the information
When your turn comes, the nurse or doctor who takes care of the blood draw sits across from you and asks you a few questions. Partner with this professional, his goal is not to embarrass you or create discomfort, but he is just doing his job. The reasons for the questions are various, including:
- Verify your identity;
- Find out if you are allergic to latex;
- Give you the opportunity to calm down or relax.
Step 4. Relax your arm
When the nurse draws blood, you have to relax the limb, otherwise you complicate his work by hindering his attempt to find the vein; muscle stiffness causes unnecessary pain and makes the already unpleasant situation worse.
- Don't squeeze your muscles;
- Keep your palm facing up.
Step 5. Let the nurse draw the blood
After relaxing the limb, the healthcare professional can take blood; this is the moment you've been waiting for and it shouldn't last long, so try to relax.
- The nurse identifies the vein from which to draw blood and cleans the area with an alcohol wipe.
- Tie a tourniquet on your arm to accumulate blood
- He places the needle at 15 ° with respect to the arm and inserts it into the skin;
- You should feel a slight sting, but nothing unbearable;
- The blood begins to flow for a time ranging from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on how many samples (tubes) have to be taken.
Step 6. Don't feed your own anxiety
While the health care practitioner goes about their job, don't do things that might make you even more nervous and push away negative thoughts. If the sight of blood makes you faint, don't watch it come out of the vein. If on the other hand you are very interested in the process, feel free to watch, but remember that it is a normal and necessary procedure, which must be done to establish the health condition. The withdrawal itself does not cause any harm.
- Close your eyes and hum in a whisper if that helps;
- If you feel anxious, think about something else;
- Joke with the nurse or talk about anything other than the blood coming out of the arm.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing the Reason for Having a Blood Test
Step 1. Take the routine checkup exam
It is recommended that most people have this type of test every one or two years to check their blood concentrations and other vital signs. For this reason, blood tests are often ordered as a normal part of annual physical exams; after all, it is one of the few diagnostic tests that allow us to assess whether the state of health is constant or is deteriorating. Here are some factors that are monitored:
- Blood sugar: the blood sugar concentration could indicate the onset of diabetes or other metabolic diseases;
- Cholesterol - provides a picture of cardiovascular health;
- Complete blood count: allows you to evaluate the health conditions of the immune system in general.
Step 2. If you have an unidentifiable disease or pain, get tested
Doctors often prescribe tests when a patient is ill and cannot trace the triggering pathology or when a person complains of pain without an obvious cause. In these cases, blood tests help doctors understand what causes illness or suffering and then prescribe appropriate medications or treatments.
Step 3. Take tests if you have been exposed to a dangerous infection
One reason you may need this test is contact with a contagious bacterium or virus; if so, your doctor will ask for blood tests to see if you have been infected and what disease it is. Here are some examples:
- Hepatitis;
- Mononucleosis;
- Bacterial infections: tests allow the doctor to identify the bacterium that makes you sick;
- Other rare viral infections.
Step 4. Get your blood checked for life-threatening ailments
Some patients show signs or symptoms of even fatal diseases or problems. A diagnostic test that allows you to understand if you have contracted these pathologies is precisely the blood one. Here are some of the ailments worthy of such an examination:
- Cancer;
- Diabetes;
- Thyroid disease;
- Nephropathy;
- Liver disease;
- Malfunction of the pancreas;
- Dysfunction of the gallbladder.
Step 5. Test for drugs or other controlled substances
Sometimes doctors or employers ask for this type of test to determine if employees have recently taken drugs or other illicit substances (although the most used and accurate test is the urine test which checks for DNA and gases present). If an employer requests this verification, he sends the employee to a doctor who prescribes the examination, through which different substances can be identified, including:
- Amphetamines;
- Phencyclidine;
- Marijuana;
- Cocaine;
- Opiates.
Step 6. Get tested for non-life threatening problems
Doctors also request blood tests for non-pathological issues; after all, these investigations have many purposes. Since they are the best indicator of health conditions and genetic profile, blood tests are irreplaceable. Here are other reasons why they are prescribed:
- Pregnancy;
- Vitamin or mineral deficiencies;
- Genetic controls;
- Thyroid monitoring;
- Control of amino acids.
