Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries . This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.
Why is donating blood important?
Why should people donate blood? Safe blood saves lives . ... A decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood is separated into its components – red cells, platelets and plasma – which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.
Why you should never donate blood?
Other reasons you may not be able to donate blood: You've experienced hepatitis or jaundice in the last year. You've had certain types of cancer, or are being treated for cancer. Blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease disqualify you from donating, to protect both donor and recipient.
What is the disadvantages of donating blood?
The side effects of donating blood include nausea and dizziness and fainting in some cases. You may develop a raised bump or experience continued bleeding and bruising at the needle site too. Some people might experience pain and physical weakness after donating blood.
Is it healthy to give blood regularly?
Regular blood donation is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attacks. “It definitely helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors ,” says Dr.
Do blood donors live longer?
A new study concludes that regular blood donors are not at a greater risk of a premature death than those who rarely donate blood. The results even suggest that the most frequent donors may live longer than those who have only given blood a few times.
Is donating blood bad for your kidneys?
Blood donation will have a temporary effect on kidney function . I suggest that you have this test repeated. If the test is persistently abnormal, then further testing may be needed.
Is it true you gain weight after donating blood?
Fact: Blood donation does not cause weight gain . In fact, the process your body undergoes to replace the blood or plasma that you donate actually burns additional calories. While this calorie burn is not significant or frequent enough to actually cause weight loss, it certainly does not cause any weight gain, either.
Does donating blood weaken your immune system?
There is no evidence blood donation weakens the immune system . Blood donation is needed to keep the supply available to patients who need it. To best prepare for your donation get sleep, eat a good meal, and drink fluids.
What are the long term side effects of donating blood?
– The most recognised and studied long term complication is iron deficiency , more frequently associated with whole blood donation(35). The collection of 450 or 500 mL of whole blood, plus an additional 30 to 50 mL for blood tests, results in 480 to 550 mL of blood loss per whole-blood donation.
Can donating blood make you tired?
Fatigue. Slight fatigue is normal after a blood donation , and some people experience this more than others. Anyone who feels tired after donating blood should rest until they feel better. Drinking plenty of water and restoring vitamin and mineral levels may help reduce fatigue.
Does donating blood cause hair loss?
Heavy periods, vegetarianism or regular blood donation can lead to low Ferritin levels , the protein that stores iron in the body. Low iron is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in young women with hair thinning.
Can I donate blood every month?
Any healthy adult, both male and female, can donate blood. Men can donate safely once in every three months while women can donate every four months. Donor should be in the age group of 18 to 65 years.
How does giving blood affect your body?
When you give blood you lose red cells and the body needs to make more to replace them. Special cells in the kidneys, called peritubular cells, sense that the level of oxygen in the blood has decreased (due to the loss of red cells) and start secreting a protein called erythropoietin.
Has anyone died giving blood?
Although blood donations are generally safe, we also include information on the infrequent reports of donation-associated fatalities submitted to the Agency. ... , with only one conclusively linked to the donation occurring in 2014 .
How much iron do you lose with blood donation?
Each time you donate blood, you lose between 220-250 mg of iron . If you donate a Power Red, you lose twice that amount, about 470 mg of iron. It may take up to 24-30 weeks for your body to replace the iron lost through a blood donation.
