Maybe every one of us has come across ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ drives at least once in our life. The camps for ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ might be set up in hospitals, school, or even in the workplace. Television commercials and radio broadcasts encourage us to ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ blood so that someone’s life can be saved.
Do you know that a single ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ could help up to three patients. We hear about the benefits of ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood accrued to the patients but we do not get to hear the advantages that are caused to the donor.
However, many people are apprehensive of ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood since they think they might become weak or happen to catch some form of sickness. You might be surprised to know that there are a lot of health benefits caused by ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ that was proven by science. Here are some of those
1. REVEALING POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood can be another way to check of your cardiovascular health. You’ll receive a physical examination prior to the blood draw, in which someone will check your pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin etc. This can shed light on possible heart problems you didn’t even know about.
For example, if your blood is low on iron then the clinic will not draw your blood. They will also inform you about other problems regarding your health.
2. REDUCES HARMFUL IRON STORES
According to Jan Patenaude, dietician and certified LEAP therapist, one in every two hundred people in the U.S. is affected by a condition called hemochromatosis. It is a disease that causes an iron overload and is known as the most common genetic disease among Caucasians by the Mayo Clinic. Most people don’t even know about it. By ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood you can help in reducing extra iron stored in your body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the removal of red blood cells is the preferred treatment for patients with excess iron in their blood.
3. REDUCES THE RISK OF ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ DEVELOPMENT
An increased iron level in the blood is also related to the risk of developing ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ. According to a study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Phlebotomy was found to be an iron reduction method that is associated with lower ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ risk and mortality. Those who ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛᴇd blood regularly had a lower chance of developing ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ.
4. REDUCES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK
According to a study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology, ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood at least once a year could reduce the risk of a heart attack by 88 percent. High levels of iron in your blood can constrict the blood vessels, thereby increasing the chances of heart attack. ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ will help in the reduction of iron levels in your blood.
5. MAKES YOU FEEL SIGNIFICANT
The various physical benefits have been mentioned above but there is also a psychological benefit of ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood. Your blood will help someone out there who need it most. This will give you a sense of satisfaction.
You know you are helping or going to help someone in need which is also a very significant benefit of ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood.
Now that you are aware of the various benefits of ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ blood, why don’t you go and save some lives?
