| If you’re like me, you dread blood tests. Years ago, I nearly fainted after undergoing an exam. These days, I can feel the lightheadedness start to build almost at the moment the phlebotomist approaches with a tourniquet, collection tube and — gulp — needle. Turns out I’m far from alone in this anxiety. In a 2022 paper, researchers found that nearly two thirds of adults have some level of needle phobia. As a result, more than half of those people have skipped out on a blood exam. While I still get mine checked, I rely on a not-exactly-doctor-approved coping strategy that involves a box of orange juice and giant candy bar. There are healthier ways to fend off dizzy spells, of course. Experts recommend various techniques, from properly fueling up before your appointment to openly discussing your concerns with the test taker. Some suggest distracting yourself with a video on your phone as the needle enters your vein, while others offer more complicated measures. “Remember, the needle is not unbearably painful,” the UK’s National Health Service insists on one website before explaining how you can elevate your blood pressure to a normal level and avoid fainting. The approach involves sitting down and repeatedly tensing your arm and leg muscles until you “feel the warmth rising in your face.” If possible, practice three times a day for about a week, it continues. “You can then try to face your fear.” For those who find such instructions less than calming, there may be good news on the medical technology front. Recently, healthcare technology companies Becton Dickinson & Co. and Babson Diagnostics Inc. rolled out a platform that they say requires just a few drops of blood from a patient’s finger. Austin-based Babson is now promoting its “BetterWay” service with an unconventional partner: US track star Gabby Thomas. Last summer, Thomas, 28, sprinted to three gold medals at the Paris Olympics. Off the track, she’s a public health advocate in Texas who works with uninsured and underserved patients by talking about exercise, healthy eating and, yes, the need for regular blood tests. Thomas knows that's difficult for many people to hear. As a pro athlete, she undergoes frequent blood tests to make sure her body is responding properly to training. She also faces plenty of surprise blood tests each year from anti-doping officials. Early in her career, it didn’t faze her. But then she had a few painful blood draws and now she feels anxious that each new test will hurt. “For a lot of people, that fear genuinely becomes a barrier that becomes an issue when it comes to receiving important health information,” Thomas said in a video interview one recent morning, hours after a surprise test and just before heading off to training. Next month, she’ll compete at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. That means she’ll probably endure several more blood tests before and after the competition. She only wishes they could be as easy as a finger prick. “It’s such a nicer experience,” she says. “It’s way less invasive and I definitely have less anxiety.” | 
