Afraid of getting blood drawn? Let's learn more about Phlebotomy!

Have you ever heard a doctor say, "Let's get some blood tested" when you're sick? Then you go to the lab and give some blood from your hand. Many people are a little scared of this, but it's essential to diagnosing many diseases. So today, let's talk about this blood draw, which is medically called phlebotomy . Let's talk clearly about what it is, how it's done, and whether there's really anything to be afraid of.

What exactly is phlebotomy?

Simply put, Phlebotomy, or venipuncture, is the process of using a needle to draw blood from a vein in your body. This is usually done from a vein just below the elbow. There are two main reasons for drawing blood in this way. 1. For Diagnosis: This is the most common reason we all know. This blood sample is taken and tested in the lab to find out hundreds of things, such as your blood sugar level, cholesterol level, kidney function, and whether you have any infections like dengue. This helps the doctor determine exactly what your illness is. 2. As a treatment (Therapeutic Phlebotomy): This is a little less common. There are some diseases in which certain things (red blood cells, iron) are produced in the blood more than necessary. In such cases, some blood is removed from the body as a treatment to remove those excess substances. This is what we call `Therapeutic Phlebotomy`.

What happens when blood is drawn? Let's see...

If you are a little nervous about donating blood, knowing what to expect beforehand can greatly reduce your fear.

Before donating blood

In most cases, you don't need to do anything special to prepare for a blood test. However , some blood tests (for example, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile) may require you to fast for 8-12 hours. Your doctor will advise you about this in advance.

Blood donation opportunity

When you go to the lab, you will be asked to sit in a chair or maybe lie down on a bed. The nurse or technician who will draw the blood will ask you to hold your arm. Then, a rubber band (tourniquet) will be tied around your upper arm. This will make the veins full of blood and look a little swollen. This will make it easier to insert the needle into the vein. When the needle is inserted into the vein, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, like an ant biting you . This only lasts for a few seconds. Then, a small amount of blood is collected into an empty test tube through a small tube attached to the needle. If you have several tests to do, you may need to fill more than one tube. The entire process takes a few minutes. When the blood is drawn, the needle is carefully removed, the bandage is removed, and a piece of cotton is placed over the puncture site and pressed down lightly. A small plaster is then applied to the area. This is left in place for several hours.

Are there any side effects or risks?

Phlebotomy is a very safe procedure. There are no major risks to be afraid of. However, some minor things can happen.

Dizziness and lightheadedness

This is what happens to many people. Some people, who are uncomfortable with the sight of blood or are afraid of needles, may feel a little dizzy, sweaty, and lightheaded. They may even faint. This is a response of the nervous system (vasovagal reaction).

Bruising and pain

The area where the blood was drawn may be slightly blue and bruised the next day. It may also be a little sore. This will usually go away in two to three days. After the blood draw, the doctor will probably tell you to drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day.

The past history of phlebotomy

This bloodletting method is not something that started yesterday. It was used thousands of years ago in the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations. But at that time, it was used as a treatment for all kinds of ailments, such as fever, headache, and anorexia. At that time, it was very controversial, because doctors sometimes removed unimaginable amounts of blood from patients. The best example is the first president of the United States, George Washington. When he fell ill with a fever in 1799, his doctors removed about 40% of the blood in his body as a treatment. He died the next day. Over time, this was not an effective treatment for many diseases. It was also proven to be dangerous in some cases. By the end of the 19th century, this method had almost completely disappeared. But today, with modern science, phlebotomy is a very safe and scientific method. It is only used for diagnosis and as a treatment for a few specific conditions that we discussed earlier. phlebotomy, blood test, blood draw, venipuncture, blood tests, how to take blood, giving blood, taking blood from a vein, therapeutic phlebotomy, treatment with blood, vasovagal reaction