World Blood Donor Day 2021 : Benefits of Donating Blood

Overview

World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14^th each year. It is celebrated in order to educate and create a level of awareness pertaining to the requirement for safe blood and associated blood products such that transfusions can be made with ease. Each of these donations is understood to be the voluntary choice of the donor and serves as an unpaid contribution provided to varied national health systems in place. These in turn allow the government bodies and those responsible for medical care to retain an adequate number of resources for the same. Read on in order to understand the incredible health benefits of donating blood.

Benefits Associated with Donating Blood

The benefits of blood donation are ample. Known for stimulating good health and reducing the risks of cancer and hemochromatosis, read on to understand the vast breadth of benefits of donating blood.

Hemochromatosis is Kept at Bay –

By donating blood, you reduce the chance of incurring Hemochromatosis. For those unaware, Hemochromatosis is a health issue that arises in the face of the body excessively absorbing iron. This condition may be inherited and / or can be exacerbated by excessive alcohol consumption (essentially alcoholism) as explored in a study published in the US National Library of Medicine. By donating blood on a frequent basis, you can reduce the iron overload existing in your body thereby preventing Hemochromatosis from arising. Donors must always be fully vetted and must meet the eligibility criteria required for making standard blood donations.

Keeps Your Heart and Liver Healthy -

Donating blood allows for one to reduce the likelihood of being affected by heart and liver ailments which arise due to high levels of iron present in the body. Iron-rich diets can cause iron levels to skyrocket in one’s body. Owing to the fact that only a certain amount of this iron can be absorbed, additional amounts of iron end up remaining stored in the heart, liver and pancreas. This can be dangerous as it increases the likelihood of one’s incurring cirrhosis, liver failure and / or damaging their pancreas. Additionally, the remaining iron stored in the aforementioned regions can give rise to abnormalities in the way the heart functions. This includes creating irregular heart rhythms. Those that donate blood on a regular basis reduce the chances of running into such health issues.

Blood Cell Production is Encouraged –

Each time you donate blood your body works hard to replenish this lost blood. This in turn encourages the production of new blood cells which are vital to maintaining a healthy state of being.

Helps Save Lives –

One of the most important benefits associated with donating blood is that it allows you to help save an individual’s life. Being in possession of clean, healthy blood is a blessing and not all bodies are capable of generating the same. By donating a small percentage of what your body creates, you allow those that are in need of the same to benefit from it.

Additional Advantages (Free Health Checkups) 

An additional advantage of donating blood is that it requires you, as well as all other donors to undergo a health screening in order to be eligible to do the same. This involves a trained medical staff member checking your blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin levels and pulse. This small checkup can provide significant insight into the status of your health as it can help indicate whether or not you are saddled with an underlying medical condition and / or pose risk factors associated with certain diseases. Blood provided by donors is checked for a number of diseases including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis, Trypanosoma Cruzi and West Nile Virus among others. Should your blood sample indicate you have the same, your blood will not be considered eligible for a donation as these diseases are capable of being passed onto others via the blood provided.

Profiles Pertaining to Blood Donors

It is important to know the following facts prior to making a blood donation:

- Blood donors are required to be 18 years or older and be aged 65 years or younger in order to be eligible for the same.

- Donors must weigh at least 50 kilograms and be in a state of good health prior to donating blood.

- An absolute must, blood donors are required to provide any and all information pertaining to any medicines they might presently be consuming apart from mentioning any medical conditions. Some of these such as transmittable diseases can result in blood donations being unacceptable from people suffering from the same.

- The recommended interval between each blood donation is estimated to be at least 8 weeks for whole blood cells and 16 weeks for double red cell donations.

- Platelet donations, however, can be made on a more frequent basis with required intervals amounting to 7 days.

- Those who have experienced pregnancy are only allowed to donate blood following 1 year of delivering their child and should no longer be lactating.

- Hemoglobin levels should not be lower than 12.5 grams.

- Donors who have been treated for malaria in the past 3 months (or 3 years if they live in epidemic regions) are not entitled to donate blood.

- Donors are not allowed to have received a tattoo or availed of acupuncture treatment in the 12 months prior to donating.

- Donors must not be suffering from any form of Cancer in order to be eligible to donate blood.

In order to have a better understanding of the parameters within which donors are selected feel free to visit the National Blood Transfusion Council’s website which is has been formed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare set up by the Government of India.

Conclusion

By donating blood, you create a vast magnitude of benefits not just applicable to your own health, but to others around you as well. Celebrate World Blood Donor Day by considering donating your blood. By inculcating a practice of eating the right food, incorporating daily exercise into your routine and engaging in feel good activities that help reduce stress like yoga, you can stay fit enough to potentially donate blood and avoid hospitalization expenses.