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Perhaps everyone can agree with the fact that blood donation is truly a “gift of life”. A priceless gift that anyone could ever grant to someone else.

But why is that so? Because the gift of blood can only come from another human being ...not even animal blood could substitute it.

Even the most experienced medical personnel, equipped with the most advanced medical technology can become helpless in the event a patient needs blood.

There is a constant demand for regular blood supply because blood can be stored for only a limited time before use.

Patients who need blood transfusion include:

Accident victims or people with severe trauma
Women with pregnancy complications eg. ruptured ectopic pregnancies or postpartum hemorrhage
Patients with blood-related conditions such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia or hemophilia
Many other complex medical and surgical procedures

Cancer patients

The Benefits of Blood Donation

While blood donation often benefits the recipient, the advantages are not limited to those on the receiving end. It turns out, donors could definitely reap some health benefits out of it as well.

Read on to know what you can get if you choose to donate blood regularly.

1. Free health check-up

Prior to donating blood, donors will need to undergo a health screening. Blood pressure will be checked along with hemoglobin levels, pulse rate, and body temperature. This mini general health check-up can offer some insights into your health and well-being.

Not only that, but your blood will also be tested for 13 infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, Syphillis, Malarial antibodies, West Nile Virus and Trypanosoma cruzi.

2. Stress reduction

When donating blood, you are doing a service for others and the community, we call this the “altruistic” work. Altruism is proven to not only reduce stress but also improve your emotional and physical well-being while providing a sense of belonging.

Evidently, those with lower stress level will live a longer, healthier and more fulfilling life.

3. Helps in weight loss

It is recommended to donate blood especially for those who are overweight. Regularly donating blood helps in weight loss and burn fat up to 650 calories.

4. Reduces the risk of heart disease and liver problem

The risk of heart and the liver-related problem is caused by the overload of iron in the body. Donating blood regularly helps in maintaining the iron level in the body and thus reduce those risk.

5. Lowers cholesterol level

According to a 2013 study, donating blood every 6 weeks lowers the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is highly associated with the development of atherosclerosis. It also helps to reduce the amount of iron in the blood that could increase the chances of blockage in blood vessels.

6. Save lives

A person can donate one unit of blood that can be separated into individual components (red blood cells, platelets, and plasma) that could help save multiple lives. And we can help save the life of up to 3 people with a single donation of blood, so if we donate four times in a year, we end up saving 12 lives.

The blood that we donate will be stored at the blood bank for future usage, and some chemicals are added to preserve it for a longer time. Regular blood donations by a sufficient number of healthy people are needed to ensure that safe blood will be available whenever and wherever it is needed.

Are There Any Side Effects When Donating Blood?

Some people may experience the immediate side effects of blood donation such as lightheadedness, nauseous or dizziness, but it’s no cause to panic as it will only last a few minutes. Lie down with your feet elevated higher than your head until you feel better.

You may have some bleeding at the site of the needle insertion. Just apply pressure and raise your arm for about 5-10 minutes to stop the bleeding. You may also develop a bruise at the site.

Let the staff know if you still feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous even after drinking, eating and resting, or if the bleeding at the needle site continues.

We don’t have to be a superhero to save someone, a simple act of donating blood can also save lives.

“It isn't every day you can do something to save someone's life - but that's exactly what you do every time you donate blood. Blood is a priceless gift - a lifesaver.”

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References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-donating-blood#donation-procedure
World Health Organization. (2017). Why should I donate blood?. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/features/qa/61/en/.
Staff, F. (2017). World Blood Donor Day: 13 Reasons why you should donate blood - Firstpost. [online] Firstpost. Available at: https://www.firstpost.com/world/world-blood-donor-day-13-reasons-why-you-should-donate-blood-3583133.html.
Akinbami, A., Uche, Adediran, Damulak, Adeyemo and Akanmu (2013). Lipid profile of regular blood donors. Journal of Blood Medicine, p.39.
Nzblood.co.nz. (2019). Why should I donate blood?. [online] Available at: https://www.nzblood.co.nz/give-blood/donating/why-should-i-donate-blood/.

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Written By

Dr. Jeanrette J. Nierras

Reviewed By