About Me

Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

When my mother underwent chemotherapy, we spent a lot of time visiting the phlebotomy lab for blood testing. I was always impressed by how easily the phlebotomist was able to find and puncture a vein to draw blood on the first try. I knew there had to be a method to it, and was astounded by how effortless and painless they made the process. It led me to research a lot about blood tests, from drawing to the actual screening. I've created this site to share what I've learned in the hopes of teaching others. The more you understand, the more control you can have over your own health care.

Search

Categories

Archive

Latest Posts

Tags

Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

2022

How To Prepare For Your Hip Replacement Surgery
Getting a hip replacement is sometimes a necessity. If your doctor has told you that you need to do a hip replacement, there are some things you need to do to prepare for the surgery. Preparing will increase the chances that your surgery will go smoothly. Here is a closer look at the things you can do to prepare for surgery. Control Your Weight If you are carrying a few extra pounds, your doctor could advise you to try to lose weight before hip replacement.

Support Your Online Weight Loss Plan
Batch cooking and the acquisition of fitness aids can help you succeed with your new weight loss plan. An online plan may offer a way to customize your goal. Based on the timeframe you wish to lose weight and the overall number of pounds that you would like to lose, you will be provided with daily diet and exercise tips. The Plan Severely restricting your caloric intake or minimally restricting your caloric intake are two vastly different options that will reflect upon the types of meals and snacks that you may be consuming each day.

Having Trouble Waking Up Early In The Morning? Here's What You Need To Know About Delayed Sleep-Wake Disorder
If you don't feel sleepy until very late at night and have trouble waking up on time in the morning, you may be suffering from delayed sleep-wake disorder. It's caused by an abnormality in your body's circadian rhythm, which is what's responsible for releasing hormones that make you feel sleepy and help you wake up in the morning. Thankfully, sleep medicine doctors can help you reset your sleep schedule so that you're able to wake up fully rested.

Those Medicare Advantage Plans: How Do You Know If They'll Be Enough?
When you sign up for Medicare, you can go with traditional coverage or Medicare Advantage. As you'd expect, each works better for different people. You have to find out which is going to be best for you before you do anything, and that means making sure you know what's covered and what can happen if you suddenly need more care. How Vital Is It That Vision and Dental Be Included?

3 Important Ways Hearing Tests Can Make Life Better
Hearing tests are an important part of maintaining overall health. Unfortunately, some individuals do not get hearing testing until they notice a change in their hearing. It is important to note that hearing loss is usually subtle. The exception would be if there was a traumatic event such as getting hit on the head and rupturing an ear drum. Routine hearing tests can detect subtle changes in hearing even if an individual does not feel like their hearing has changed.

Fertility Acupuncture: Is It Right For You?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique used in a variety of treatments. The procedure involves the placement of thin needles in the skin. While many people associate acupuncture with pain relief, some people also use it to enhance fertility. Are you considering acupuncture as a treatment for infertility? Here's what you need to know about fertility acupuncture. How Does Acupuncture Work? Acupuncture is based on the belief that energy flows through the body.

What Are Some Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction?
It is completely normal for a man to have difficulty getting an erection occasionally. However, if you deal with this issue on a regular basis, you might be dealing with erectile dysfunction. This condition can be frustrating, but there are some ways to treat it. You may be wondering why you are dealing with this problem. The following are some possible causes of erectile dysfunction. High Blood Pressure When your blood pressure is too high, your blood vessels can be damaged.

Child Has an Unhealthy BMI? What to Expect from Your Child's Doctor
Baby visits with your child's doctor are important in making sure developmental milestones are being achieved and to keep tabs on growth. Height and weight are annotated at each well check. Then, the height and weight are compared to previous records as well as to a Body Mass Index chart that is used by healthcare providers. When the BMI falls into a dangerous range of either underweight or obese, a child doctor may recommend additional appointments and testing.

The Importance Of Agreeing To Prompt Professional Ultrasound Scans
When you experience unusual symptoms, you may go to the doctor to find out what is wrong with you. Your doctor, at first glance, may be unable to tell what condition you're suffering from. He or she may need to order more in-depth tests to discover what, if anything, might be wrong inside of your body. Along with having blood drawn, you also may undergo an ultrasound on the affected part of your body.

Understanding The Different Types Of Blood Tests
Blood is one of the most important components of your body and is vital to sustaining a healthy and happy life. Blood can also reveal quite a lot about how your body fights illnesses, what type of problems it is currently dealing with, and any genetic predispositions you may have for certain issues in the future. All of this and more can be deduced through blood testing. If you have had blood tests ordered then you may be confused as to what they actually mean.

Difficulty Sleeping? 3 Signs It's Time To Go To A Sleep Clinic
Having trouble going to sleep is something you may encounter from time to time. You may not be sleeping because you're sleeping in too late, or you just aren't active enough throughout the day, or it may simply be that you can't sleep because you're worried or anxious about the next day. Whatever the reason for your hard time sleeping, if it's been ongoing, it may be time to seek help from a sleep clinic.