Saturday, October 22, 2005

What the phlebotomy?

My roommate and I were on our way home from the Garment District (after buying stuff for our respective Halloween costumes!), and we passed a sign advertising "Cardio-Phlebotomy."

And suddenly I'm filled with a million and one questions:

What is "Cardio-Phlebotomy?"
What is a "phlebotomy"?
Can "phlebotomy" stand alone as its own entity, or does it always have to be preceded by "cardio?"
If "phlebotomy" can stand alone, then what's the difference between simple "phlebotomy" and "cardio-phlebotomy?"
Who came up with this word?
Why?

Okay, so that's really only 6 questions...but let's just say that I only wrote the highlights of the questions racing through my head at that moment. We move on...

So, after coming home, trying on our costumes, making adjustments to them, etc., I finally sat down to do a little research to answer some of these questions (let's be serious, I don't know that I'll ever be able to answer why someone would decide to make "phlebotomy" and actual word used in the English language...we turn our heads from a lot of strange words, right?).

My dictionary (my beloved Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary) defines "phlebotomy" as follows:
the act or practice of opening a vein for letting blood as a therapeutic measure; venesection; bleeding.

Hmm, is anyone else suddenly reminded of the olden days "cure" for disease and sickness calling for the doctor to cut the patient and let them bleed the disease out? Rather archaic, yes? I saw this sign for "Cardio-Phlebotomy" on the window of a health and fitness place. So...you know where I'm going with this, right? WEIRD! It's got to be something a little...not like that...

Some more research on Google tells me that "phelobotomists" (those who are trained in "phlebotomy" of course) are "essential members of the health care delivery team who are primarily responsible for collecting blood specimens from patients for laboratory testing." Phlebotomists are also employed with blood donor organizations.

Okay. So. Perhaps this "cardio-phlebotomy" thing is just simply taking blood to test someone's cardio fitness? Somehow, it seems a little bit of an anti-climactic answer to my question about what it is... "Cardio-Phlebotomy" It just sounds like some sort of therapy...and my dictionary defines it as such. So...I'm still in the dark on this one.

What is "cardio-phlebotomy?"
How does it work in the realm of fitness?
If it's a form of therapy, how does said therapy work and why is it so therapeutic?

I'll let you know if I run across any further enlightenment regarding these questions. In the meantime, I've now learned a whole new set of words related to "phlebotomy"! Some of my favorites:

phlebotomize: bleed
(though technically it means to "subject to phlebotomy")
phlebology: the study of the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of veins
phlebotome: a cutting instrument used for phlebotomy
phlebotomic:
(of insects) bloodsucking

There are, of course, more words related...I only gave you the highlights (i.e. the one's I felt would be particularly amusing to throw into a conversation randomly).

Comments:
sounds vampirific :p

also see The Joy Luck Club. The daughter used her blood to make a soup for her sick mother. YUM!
 
um, ew?
 
I also have that kind of question in my mind. And I am so thankful that I read this post. This article explains things about phlebotomy.
 
Job well done guys, quality information.
national certification for phlebotomy
 
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