Surprising Health Benefits Of Donating Blood
Donating blood is a practice that saves countless human lives every year. According to the American Red Cross, one donor can save three lives, and every two seconds, one person needs blood in the United States alone.
Donating blood has many benefits for the recipients, but it benefits the donor too. Here are some benefits of donating blood:
Health Benefits
Donating blood benefits your physical and emotional health. According to a report from the Mental Health Foundation, donating blood can:
- Improve your emotional health
- Improve your physical health
- Reduce stress-related symptoms
- Reduce negative thoughts and feelings
- Provides a sense of belonging and reduce isolation
Research has discovered more evidence of benefits from donating blood.
You Get a Free Health Screening
Health screening is a prerequisite for donating blood. This health screening is performed by a trained healthcare professional. They will inspect your:
- Body temperature
- Hemoglobin levels
- Blood pressure
- Pulse reading
It can easily detect any underlying medical condition and give you valuable insight into your health.
The blood test is done before donation also detects many diseases that include:
- Syphilis
- West Nile Virus
- Trypanosoma cruzi
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
Reduce the Risk Of Heart Disease
According to a 2013 study, donating blood frequently lowers the iron stores in your body. This can potentially reduce the risks of a heart attack. High iron stores inside the body are believed to increase the chances of heart attack or failure.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Blood donation is completely safe for healthy adults. It does not involve any risk of contracting diseases since new sterile equipment is used for each person.
Some people may experience lightheadedness, nausea, or dizziness after donating blood, but only for a few minutes. If you notice any of these symptoms, you can lie down with your feet up until you feel fine.
Experiencing some bleeding at the puncture site is also normal. Apply pressure and keep your arm elevated for a couple of minutes, and it will stop the bleeding.
If you have these signs, immediately call the donation center:
- You develop a bump, or the bleeding hasn’t stopped.
- You feel dizzy, nauseous, and lightheaded after having a meal and rest.
- Your arm hurts, feels numb, or you feel some tingling near the needle site.
Who Can Donate?
Here are some things you should know before you decide to donate:
- You need to be at least 17 years old to donate whole blood.
- You should weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
- You are asked to provide information regarding any medications you’re taking or any medical condition you might have. That can affect your eligibility to donate blood.
- Platelet donations can be made after every week, up to 24 times per year.
- You need to wait at least eight weeks for whole blood donations and sixteen weeks before you can donate double red cells again.
If you’re looking to donate blood at the comfort of your home. Phlebotomy On Wheels provides comprehensive Laboratory Services Maryland at your doorstep. You can visit our website to know about our services or contact us to schedule a visit.