Some of the side effects include: In case these effects persist even after hours, please consult the donor center. A 2008 study found a slight decrease in cancer risk among individuals who donated blood frequently (5). You should weigh at least 110 pounds and be in a good state of health. Patients with sickle cell diseases or cancer need blood transfusions throughout their treatments, and a single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood. In any case, you may be surprised at some of the advantages. The waiting time can range from 6 weeks to 6 months, and sometimes, even more. It depends on your physical health and the area you live in. Yes, by donating blood you’ll be saving up to three human lives each time. Such concerns include high blood pressure and low blood count. These needles contain no blood from an HIV-positive person or anyone with any disease (10). You can lie down with your feet elevated, and the feeling will pass. Regular blood donation can also cut the risk of myocardial infarction (blockage of blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack) in middle-aged men (4). #4 - Reduce Risks of Certain Cancers by Lowering Iron Levels Excessive iron has been correlated with some forms of cancer. Donating blood at least once a year could reduce your risk of a heart attack by 88 percent, according to a study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology. Here is a list of health benefits of donating blood. Donating blood may help in improving cardiovascular health and reducing obesity. 6. This is important as any potential health concerns unknown to you are revealed (2). In addition to the precautions, you must also be aware of the common misconceptions and learn to differentiate them from the facts. Try not to lift any weights. One blood donation could help up to three patients. Or maybe you’ve done it before and are curious about how it might impact you if you donate regularly. 8 Surprising Benefits of Donating Blood. This is a great way to check whether you … Myth 3: Heavy people have more blood and are hence eligible for donation.Fact: Being heavy is a sign of bad health. The following two tabs change content below. Insights from Patenaude and Dragoo remain from the original article. If we do a blood donor regularly then it’s can be prevented so that the blood flow is not blocked. She loves to write, teach and talk about the power of effective communication. Myth 5: Blood donation can lead to HIV or other serious diseases.Fact: No way! 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. Please correct the errors and submit again. Dehydration is another common reason for deferrals. Donating blood means that someone (or multiple people) somewhere will receive the help they desperately need. Donating blood can help people with many health conditions, such as those who:. Bleeding at the site of the needle injection/a bruise. Dr. Dragoo explains that high levels of iron in the blood constrict your blood vessels and create more risk of a heart attack. They will also inform you of any other blood issues they notice or if anything seems unusual. One can donate blood every 90 days (3 months) It takes only 15 to 20 minutes to donate blood . Research has linked too much iron with NAFLD, Hepatitis C and other liver diseases and infections. A committed blood donor herself, Patenaude recommends donation as a way to reduce the body’s extra iron stores. There are incredible health benefits of donating blood, but the most important thing that you should keep in mind is you can have the chance save others who are in need. There are so many incredible health benefits of donating blood, one of which is that you get to have a mini-medical examination. I firmly believe that donating blood has health benefits. Volunteering has been shown to have positive effects on happiness. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has been in the digital media field for over six years. Rasmussen College may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Please consult your doctor for more information in this aspect. Since blood can’t be made or manufactured, these patients depend on blood donors for their very lives. If you are without health insurance or you can’t pay for your blood work, this is a great option. Rasmussen College is not enrolling students in your state at this time. I donate platelets a couple of times a month and whole blood as often as it’s allowed. Isn’t it shocking that about 60% of the population are eligible to donate blood, yet less than 4% do! According to a report by the Mental Health Foundation, helping others can: reduce stress. Benefits of Donating blood sure will keep you healthy – that is probably the foremost necessary reason you must even do it. There is no obligation to enroll. Blood donation reduces the blood’s viscosity, and this can prevent heart attacks. Research discovered donating blood can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer You may do yourself a favor too as most donated blood is tested for disease so if your blood is found with positive result, you normally will be … Red blood cells are majorly … If you’d like to learn more about medical assistants, check out our article, “Medical Assisting Skills: What You Need to Be Confident in Your Career.”. New, disposable, and sterile needles are used to collect your blood. Donating Blood useful for their both health, including reduced cancer risk and hemochromatosis. Blood donation reduces the blood’s viscosity, and this can prevent heart attacks. Reading and theater are his other interests. The study focused on patients affected by peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which the Mayo Clinic describes as a common circulatory problem. While the impact is a little less obvious, there are several health advantages that come as a result of giving blood. PAD patients who regularly donated blood had a lower risk of developing cancer than those who did not. 09.14.2020, Kirsten Slyter | And here is even more awesome news: not only is donating blood extremely beneficial to those on the receiving end, it also has proven benefits to the person donating blood.Here are some of the benefits you gain for you humanitarian efforts. Though there are many other factors involved in these problems, donating blood can help relieve some of those iron stores and avoid extra issues in your liver. These foods include spinach, beans, fish, and cereals fortified with iron. You sure would have donated blood. Though common, most of us aren’t aware of how to ensure a successful blood donation. Avoid fatty foods like fries, hamburgers, etc. Myth 2: There is limited blood in the body and giving away some can be dangerous.Fact: Your body produces new blood after donation. Donating Blood Can Reduce the Risk of Heart and Liver Disease. In fact, studies have shown that men who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of heart disease. This is an experience that cannot be described in words. And if you have a rare blood type, your blood will make an even bigger difference to whoever receives it. A healthy adult can easily donate up to a pint of blood with no negative side effects. Depleting those extra iron deposits by donating blood gives your vessels more room to operate. He considers himself a sculptor born to chip away at content and reveal its dormant splendor. Usually, donating blood maximum 5 times a … The mini-physical examination prior to blood donation is not a substitute for a full health checkup. Giving blood can help your mental state. June is National Blood Donor month. Please select another program of interest. Myth 4: Taking medications means you cannot be a blood donor.Fact: It depends on the medication. Donating blood is as good for YOUR health as it is for the receiver. 1. We don’t often hear about that side of the arrangement. Patenaude believes the psychological health benefit you receive from knowing you’re helping others is just as helpful as the physical health benefit. Donating blood burns about 650 calories. One in every two hundred people in the U.S. is affected by a condition called hemochromatosis and most don’t even know it, according to Patenaude. The program you have selected is not available in your area. Getting out of your usual environment to do something good for someone else is stimulating in the best kind of way. While the most obvious health benefit of donating blood is the wonderful feeling derived from giving something vital to someone who needs it, the benefits of donating blood may extend far beyond this to having a positive impact on the donor’s health. You’ll receive a mini-physical prior to the blood draw, in which someone will check your pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin and more. A Nigerian study found that regular blood donation lowered total cholesterol levels and even LDL (the bad cholesterol), cutting the risk of cardiovascular disease (3). Donating blood is one of the positive actions that can be done for caring the heart. What are the Health Benefits Related to Donating Blood? December 19, 2019. We consulted with health professionals to identify some of the biggest benefits of donating blood. These cancers were linked to excess iron levels in the blood, and they include cancer of the liver, colon, esophagus, stomach, and the lungs. You undergo a simple physical examination and a short blood test before you donate blood. Samriddhi Srivastava; Editorial11 Jun 2020, 17:51 IST; share. When you roll up your sleeve and … The wellness checkup can also reveal undetected health issues. You may also want to visit the center and check if anything is wrong with you. Start donating blood today. A blood transfusion can help unload excess iron within the body. Ravi Teja Tadimalla is an editor and a published author. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Top 9 Health Benefits of Donating Blood Regularly 1. Donating blood can be beneficial to the donor as well as the recipient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the removal of red blood cells by phlebotomy (or donating blood) is the preferred treatment for patients with excess iron in their blood. Health benefits of donating blood include good health and reduced risk of cancer and hemochromatosis. This can be good news as you now have the time to take preventive action. When you donate blood, you basically give away blood along with its components (red blood cells, plasma, and platelets). This makes them less eligible for donation. Fill out the form to receive information about: There are some errors in the form. Donating blood means that someone (or multiple people) somewhere will be getting the help they desperately need. How soon can you donate blood after having a baby? * This relates to the iron issue again, says Dr. David Dragoo, healthcare expert at Money Crashers. Stick to consuming only healthy and iron-rich foods at least a few days before donation (if you are not doing so already). Rasmussen College does not guarantee, approve, control, or specifically endorse the information or products available on websites linked to, and is not endorsed by website owners, authors and/or organizations referenced. Drink extra water (16 ounces) before donation. *The study referenced was conducted on nearly 3,000 middle-aged men living in Eastern Finland.EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in March 2015. This can sometimes shed light on issues you didn’t even know about. Benefits of Donating Blood Body starts to form new blood just after the donation. Also, only about 350-450 mL of blood is taking during donation. Ravi believes in the great possibilities of abundant health with natural foods and organic supplements. By Erin Hueffner. Jaime, was 16 and excited to give blood for the first time at her high school blood drive. This helps the formation of new blood cells which are required to maintain good health. And in this post, we’ll discuss what that good is – in detail. Hemochromatosis is a disease that causes an iron overload and is labeled as the most common genetic disease among Caucasians by the Mayo Clinic. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in males, this is, indeed, an important health benefit of donating blood. While it isn’t the same thing as a trip to the doctor, donating blood can be another way to keep an eye on your cardiovascular health. Blood donations save thousands of lives every year, yet the American Red Cross almost always has a need for more blood to be donated. A Nigerian study found that regular blood donation lowered total cholesterol levels and even LDL (the bad cholesterol), cutting the risk of cardiovascular disease (3). Click here for additional information . Blood donors get to relax for an hour or so and lay back in a chair. Over the years, blood donation has become a common process, wherein thousands of people donate their blood to help several patients to stay healthy … Studies have shown that, in general, Americans tend to consume more iron on a daily basis than is necessary for good health. Also, consume foods rich in iron (spinach and red meat), folate (dried beans and green leafy veggies), and vitamin B6 (bananas and potatoes). You’ll be screened for conditions like hepatitis B and C and HIV, Zika virus, West Nile virus, human T-lymphotropic virus and bacterial contamination. have internal or external bleeding due to an injury; have sickle cell disease or another illness that affects the blood