A Blood Test Can Detect Underlying Diseases That Don't Show Signs or Symptoms
Chapter five

I hoped I was done. I wasn't.

Returning to the medicine chest, the nurse then took out a needle that was attached to a valve, several blood vials, and a small strip of rubber that was to be used as a tourniquet, alcohol, cotton swabs and a Band-Aid.

I squirmed a bit when I saw what was coming. I was going to have a blood test.

Preparing the site

Extending my left arm, she began searching for the antecubital fossa, the vein that is located in the area in front of my elbow. She gently tapped on the area and the vein popped out becoming more prominent.

She then proceeded to wrap the rubber tourniquet two inches above the vein site that she intended to prick. This further raised the vein by restricting the blood flow to my upper arm.

She then opened the bottle of alcohol, placed the cotton swab over the opening, wetting it, and applied it on the vein. By doing so, she was removing any dirt or grease that might be on the area thus making sure to avoid infection.

The prick - taking the blood

When that was done, she inserted the needle that was connected to the valve into the vein. The valve was screwed into an open ended plastic cylinder. She inserted a tube into the cylinder and automatically the blood was drawn out of the vein by the presence of a vacuum in the tube.

She did this three times. Each time the tube was removed the valve sealed until the next tube was put into the cylinder. When she had collected enough blood specimens she withdrew the needle.

Achieving homeostasis

She then placed a cotton ball over the puncture site and began pressing firmly making sure that it stopped bleeding.

When it did, she put on a band-aid, and asked me if I was okay.

I was, so she discarded the needle into the trash can labeled hazardous material, and began labeling the tubes, with my name and the date.

She took them with her and she left the room. The waiting started again.

The medical exam

Several minutes later, the doctor came in; he examined me briefly, he took out his otoscope to check my ears and throat, his ophthalmoscope to check my eyes, and his stethoscope to listen to my heart and lungs. He finished off by squeezing my stomach.

He then explained to me, that the most common diagnostic tool used to detect many diseases and illnesses is the blood test.

By taking my blood he can see if I am susceptible to heart disease by having high cholesterol levels, or to diabetes by having high sugar levels or any other diseases that still don't show any symptoms.

The doctor then told me "Everything seems fine. Call me in a week for the blood test results; we should have it back from the lab by then".

Continue here for the next chapter The blood test results

If you know that heart disease runs in your family, or you have any of the other risk factors for heart disease, don't hesitate, there are many things that you can still do.

To get a better understanding of what blood tests do you can read about it here.