Perhaps you are considering donating blood but are unsure what to expect. Maybe you have donated blood before and are curious about how this could effect you if you donate regularly. In any case, you may be surprised with the many advantages of donating blood may have on your health.

Free Mini Checkup

In order to give blood, you’re required to undergo a health screening. A trained staff member performs this checkup. They’ll check your:

• pulse
• blood pressure
• body temperature
• hemoglobin levels

This free mini-physical can offer excellent insight into your health that could indicate an
underlying medical condition or risk factors for certain genetic diseases like hemochromatosis. Your blood is also tested for several diseases. These include:

• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• HIV
• West Nile virus
• syphilis
• Trypanosoma cruzi

Excess Iron Far More Common Than Iron Deficiency

Donating blood regularly may also lower iron stores. This may reduce the risk of heart attack. High body iron stores are believed to increase the risk of heart attack.  Your body has a limited capacity to excrete iron, which means it can easily build up in organs like your liver, heart and pancreas. This is dangerous because iron is a potent oxidizer and can contribute to serious health issues, including:

• Cirrhosis
• Liver cancer
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Bacterial and viral infections

Lower risk of heart disease

Regular blood donation may lower the risk of heart disease and heart attack.  A  2013 study found that regular blood donation significantly lowered cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, protecting against cardiovascular disease.

“If blood has a high viscosity, or resistance to flow, it will flow like molasses,” says Phillip DeChristopher, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Loyola University Health System blood bank. Repeated blood donations may help the blood flow in a way that’s less damaging to the lining of the blood vessels and could result in fewer arterial blockages. That may explain why the American Journal of Epidemiology found that blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

ENHANCES THE PRODUCTION OF NEW BLOOD CELLS

When blood is withdrawn, the donor’s body immediately begins to replenish the lost blood. New cells are produced by marrow within 48 hours of donation, and all of the red blood cells the donor loses during donation are completely replaced within one to two months.  This process of replenishment can help your body stay healthy and work more efficiently.

Lower risk of cancer

According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, reducing iron store in the blood can reduce risk of cancer. Researchers believe iron is responsible for free radical damage in the body, and there are already scientific reports and studies to connect free radical damage with cancer.

• liver
• colon
• lung
• esophagus
• stomach

How Often Can You Donate Blood?

You must wait a minimum of 56 days between whole blood donations and wait at least 7 days after donating blood before you can donate platelets. After an automated double red cell collection, you must wait 112 days before donating again.

• Drink an extra 16 ounces of water before your appointment.
• Eat a healthy meal that’s low in fat.
• Wear a short-sleeved shirt or a shirt with sleeves that are easy to roll up.

Let the staff know if you have a preferred arm or vein and if you prefer to sit up or lie down. Listening to music, reading, or talking to someone else can help you relax during the donation process.

Interesting Facts

According to Red Cross, someone needs blood every two seconds and every day, roughly 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed in the United States. Patients with sickle cell diseases or cancer may need blood transfusions throughout their treatments, and a single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood. Since blood can’t be made or manufactured, these patients depend on blood donors for their very lives.  One blood donation could help up to three patients.

SOURCES USED IN THIS BLOG

UpToDate.com  is an evidence-based, physician-authored clinical decision support resource which clinicians trust to make the right point-of-care decisions.

Redcrossblood.org  Red Cross volunteers and staff work to deliver vital services – from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergencies.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

irondisorders.org IDI exists so that people with iron disorders receive early, accurate (complete) diagnosis, appropriate treatment and are equipped to live in good health.

hemochromatosis.org Provided by Iron Disorders Institute The mission of the website is to inform the public about iron disorders, especially hemochromatosis, iron deficiency with or without anemia, anemia of inflammatory response, dysmetabolic iron overload (DIOS) and iron avidity.

academic.oup.com/jnci/ The Journal of the National Cancer Institute publishes peer-reviewed original research from around the world and is internationally acclaimed as the source for the most up-to-date information from the fields of cancer research and treatment.

American Journal of Epidemiology The American Journal of Epidemiology is the oldest and one of the premier epidemiologic journals devoted to the publication of empirical research findings, opinion pieces, and methodological developments in the field of epidemiologic research.