Blood Donation: Benefits of Blood Donation, It's Side Effects, Advantages and Everything you want to now.

Overview

Blood donation is a voluntary procedure that can help save lives. There are several types of blood donation. Each type helps meet different medical needs.

Donating blood can seem intimidating, but it’s an easy process that can help save someone’s life. There’s no end to the benefits of donating blood for those who need it. According to the?American Red Cross, one donation can save as many as 3 lives.

It turns out that donating blood doesn’t just benefit recipients. There are health benefits for donors, too, on top of the benefits that come from helping others.

Types of Blood Donation

Whole blood donation

Whole blood donation is the most common type of blood donation. During this donation, you donate about a pint (about half a liter) of whole blood. The blood is then separated into its components — red cells, plasma and sometimes platelets.

Apheresis

During apheresis, you are hooked up to a machine that collects and separates different parts of your blood. These blood components include red cells, plasma and platelets. The machine then returns the remaining parts of the blood back to you.

• Platelet donation (plateletpheresis)?collects only platelets. Platelets are the cells that help stop bleeding by clumping and forming plugs in blood vessels (clotting).
• Donated platelets are commonly given to people with clotting problems or cancer and people who will have organ transplants or major surgeries.
• Double red cell donation?allows you to donate a concentrated amount of red blood cells. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to your organs and tissues.
• Donated red blood cells are typically given to people with severe blood loss, such as after an injury or accident, and people with anemia (low hemoglobin).
• Plasma donation (plasmapheresis)?collects the liquid portion of the blood (plasma). Plasma helps blood clot and contains antibodies that help fight off infections.
• Plasma is commonly given to people in emergency and trauma situations to help stop bleeding.

Benefits

Donating blood has benefits for your emotional and physical health. According to a report by the?Mental Health Foundation, helping others can:

• Reduce stress
• Improve your emotional well-being
• Benefit your physical health
• Help get rid of negative feelings
• Provide a sense of belonging and reduce isolation

Research has found further evidence of the health benefits that come specifically from donating blood.

Free Health 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. It can effectively detect problems that could indicate an underlying medical condition or risk factors for certain diseases.

Your blood is also tested for several diseases. These include:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• West Nile virus
• Syphilis

Does donating blood lower your risk of heart disease?

The research is mixed on whether blood donation actually lowers risk of heart disease and heart attack.

A 2017 study suggests that regular blood donations are associated with increased risk of heart disease possibly due to unfavorable cholesterol levels. However, donating blood regularly may lower iron stores, according to a?2013 study This may reduce the risk of heart attack. High body iron stores are believed to increase the risk of heart attack.

Regular blood donations were?thought to lower blood pressure, but?a 2017 study suggests these observations are deceiving and are not a real physiological response.

Risks Or Side effects of donating blood

Blood donation is safe for healthy adults. There’s no risk of contracting disease. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor. Most healthy adults can donate a pint (about half a liter) safely, without health risks. Within a few days of a blood donation, your body replaces the lost fluids. And after two weeks, your body replaces the lost red blood cells.

Some people may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or dizzy after donating blood. If this happens, it should only last a few minutes. You can lie down with your feet up at the until you feel better.

You may also experience some bleeding at the site of the needle. Applying pressure and raising your arm for a couple of minutes will usually stop this. You may develop a bruise at the site.

Call the blood donation center if:

• You still feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous after drinking, eating, and resting.
• You develop a raised bump or continue bleeding at the needle site.
• You have arm pain, numbness, or tingling.

What to know before you donate

Here are some important things to know before you donate:

• You need to be 17 or older to donate whole blood.
• You have to weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health to donate.
• You need to provide information about medical conditions and any medications you’re taking. These may affect your eligibility to donate blood.
• You must wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood donations and 16 weeks between double red cell donations.
• Platelet donations can be made every 7 days, up to 24 times per year.

The following are some suggestions to help you prepare for donating blood:

• 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 with someone else can help you relax during the donation process.

Food and medications

Before your blood donation:

• Get plenty of sleep the night before you plan to donate.
• Eat a healthy meal before your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as a hamburger, fries or ice cream.
• Drink plenty of water before the donation.
• Check to see if any medications you are taking or recently took would prevent you from donating. For example, if you are a platelet donor, you must not take aspirin for two days prior to donating. Talk to a member of your health care team before you stop taking any medications in order to donate blood.
• Wear a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up.

After the procedure

After donating, you sit in an observation area, where you rest and eat a light snack. After 15 minutes, you can leave. After your blood donation:

• Drink extra fluids.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours.
• If you feel lightheaded, lie down with your feet up until the feeling passes.
• Keep your bandage on and dry for the next five hours.
• If you have bleeding after removing the bandage, put pressure on the site and raise your arm until the bleeding stops.
• If bruising occurs, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.
• Consider adding iron-rich foods to your diet to replace the iron lost with blood donation.

Contact the blood donor center or your health care provider if you:

• Forgot to report any important health information to the blood donation center.
• Have signs and symptoms of an illness, such as a fever, within several days after your blood donation.

Millions of people need blood transfusions each year. Some may need blood during surgery. Others depend on it after an accident or because they have a disease that requires certain parts of blood. Blood donation makes all of this possible. There is no substitute for human blood — all transfusions use blood from a donor.