What should I do if I feel dizzy when preparing to have my blood drawn?

At the blood draw window, you may encounter some special situations. The patient who comes to draw blood communicates normally with the nurse before the blood draw and does not seem to be particularly nervous. However, as soon as the needle is inserted or the patient sees the blood, everything goes black in front of his eyes and he may even faint. This is called blood phobia and needle phobia. What is going on? Are there any "little tricks" to deal with it? Let's find out together!

What is blood fainting

Hemophobia, also known as "blood phobia," is a mental and physical overreaction caused by contact with or sight of blood. Hemophobia is not uncommon in the population, accounting for about 3% to 4%.

Fainting at the sight of blood during a blood draw is a common phenomenon, medically known as "vasovagal syncope". This condition usually does not cause serious health effects, but it can make people feel uncomfortable or even frightened. Vasovagal syncope is caused by an overactive vagus nerve, which leads to a drop in heart rate and blood pressure, causing dizziness, sweating, nausea, blurred vision, and even fainting. Common triggers include fear of needles or blood, tension, pain, and standing for long periods of time.

How to avoid blood fainting

01

Inform your healthcare provider in advance

Before having your blood drawn, you can tell the medical staff in advance that you are afraid of blood, so they can take some preventive measures. For example, you can have your blood drawn while lying down instead of sitting or standing to prevent fainting. At the same time, the medical staff will pay more attention to your condition and provide timely help.

02

Stay relaxed

It is important to stay relaxed before and during your blood draw. Here are some ways to relax:

01

Take a deep breath

Deep breathing can help relieve tension and anxiety. Breathe in slowly, then breathe out slowly several times.

02

meditation

Close your eyes and imagine a place that makes you feel calm and relaxed, such as a beach or a forest.

03

Listen to music

Put on headphones and listen to some relaxing music to help distract yourself and relax.

03

Distracting attention

During the blood draw, try to avoid looking at the needle and blood. You can talk to the medical staff or bring a book or cell phone to use these tools to distract yourself.

04

Nutritional supplements

Eating a meal rich in protein and carbohydrates before blood draw can help maintain blood sugar levels and prevent dizziness caused by low blood sugar. In addition, it is also important to stay hydrated and drink enough water before blood draw.

05

Segmented relaxation

Before having your blood drawn, you can try Progressive Muscle Relaxation. This method is to relax the whole body by tensing and relaxing the muscles of each part of the body one by one. The specific steps are as follows:

1

Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and breathe deeply.

2

Starting with your toes, tense your toe muscles, hold for a few seconds, and then relax.

3

Work your way up, tensing the muscles in your calves, thighs, abdomen, arms, shoulders, neck, and face, holding for a few seconds and then relaxing.

06

Adaptation Exercises

For some people, gradually exposing them to situations that frighten them can help reduce their fear. For example, you can start by watching medical documentaries or pictures to gradually get used to the presence of blood and needles. You can also ask a doctor or nurse to simulate the blood drawing process without a needle to help you get used to it.

07

Avoid fasting blood draw

If fasting is not necessary for the examination, try not to have your blood drawn on an empty stomach. Fasting may cause your blood sugar to drop, exacerbating symptoms of dizziness and fainting at the sight of blood.

08

Consult a psychologist

If blood phobia seriously affects your daily life and health check-ups, you can consider consulting a psychologist. A psychologist can help you find the root cause and provide professional psychological treatment methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to effectively relieve fear and anxiety.

09

Medication assistance

In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking sedatives or anti-anxiety medications before a blood draw to help reduce nervousness and blood phobia. However, medications should be used under your doctor's guidance to avoid dependency.

Tips for dealing with blood loss

In fact, blood phobia is a trivial matter. Friends who have blood phobia must have a regular schedule and ensure adequate and regular sleep. At the same time, improve your psychological quality (try to look at blood pictures slowly), pay attention to your mood and behavior changes, and adjust yourself. I believe that the symptoms of blood phobia will gradually improve!