Photo: Liza Summer

How can I calm my anxiety for a blood test?

Distraction is your best friend Watch a video or listen to music on your phone and close your eyes. Bring a friend who'll keep you engaged in conversation. Visualise being somewhere else. Close your eyes and take yourself to the beach or somewhere relaxing.

nuffieldhealth.com - 4 ways to stay calm during a blood test - Nuffield Health

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While it’s true that blood tests are quick, safe and usually painless, they’re not always easy to face. That’s because many of us suffer from a phobia of needles (trypanophobia) or blood (haemophobia) and it's little comfort to be told your fear is simply irrational. Instead, here are four easy ways to make the experience a little easier, so you can get the tests you need: Communicate your concerns If you’re anxious about blood tests, the best thing you can do is let your phlebotomist (the person taking your blood) know. Try to put your embarrassment aside and let them help you through it. Give them details about experiences in the past where it’s been difficult to draw blood, or you’ve felt faint or nauseated. It’s likely they’ve heard it before and know how to help. If you feel faint they can recline your chair or take your blood while you lie on a couch or bed. Distraction is your best friend Anxiety builds when you obsessively overthink a situation. During a blood test, distract yourself by any means possible. The key to this is never looking at the needle. Here are a few suggestions: Watch a video or listen to music on your phone and close your eyes

Bring a friend who’ll keep you engaged in conversation

Visualise being somewhere else. Close your eyes and take yourself to the beach or somewhere relaxing.

Stay hydrated and fill your belly

First, ask if your test requires a period of fasting. If it does, try to fast for the minimum time allowed. If it’s 12 hours, book your test for first thing in the morning so you’re only skipping one meal. Most blood tests don’t require fasting so make sure you’re well fed and have had plenty of water. Low blood sugar, a consequence of skipping meals, can contribute to feeling faint, while dehydration lowers the amount of available fluid in your body and can make it more difficult to draw blood. Drinking plenty of water promotes fuller veins and brings them closer to the surface for easier access.

Keep warm

Low temperatures shrink your veins, making it difficult for the phlebotomist to find an appropriate location to insert the needle. This can draw out the process and make you more nervous. If you’re a typically cold person, or outside temperatures are low, do everything you can to stay warm and get circulation flowing. Wear warm clothing and go for a brisk walk before your appointment.

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Does coffee raise cholesterol?

Though brewed coffee does not contain actual cholesterol, it does have two natural oils that contain chemical compounds -- cafestol and kahweol -- which can raise cholesterol levels. And studies have shown that older coffee drinkers have higher levels of cholesterol.

webmd.com - What You Need to Know About Coffee and Cholesterol - WebMD

If you are living with high cholesterol or you have a family history of the condition, you’re probably pretty tuned in to the foods to avoid and the foods to add to your diet to help keep your levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol low. But, what about coffee? It’s one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world and is constantly in the news for having health benefits. Here’s what you need to know about the possible connection between coffee and high cholesterol. Most of the studies on coffee and health show that moderate amounts (4 cups or less daily) can be good for your general health, but more than 4 cups have been connected to a greater risk of death from heart disease. Though brewed coffee does not contain actual cholesterol, it does have two natural oils that contain chemical compounds -- cafestol and kahweol -- which can raise cholesterol levels. And studies have shown that older coffee drinkers have higher levels of cholesterol. But there wasn’t much research on younger folks until recently.

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