Why is giving blood healthy

Keep in mind that donating blood should not replace a visit to your primary care doctor. You will get some important health information, though. And you may be alerted to an underlying health condition that you were not aware of.

During your blood donation, you will give about 1 pint of blood. A person who weighs pounds has about 10 pints. Your blood volume will be back to normal in a couple of hours, and your iron level will be restored in a couple of months. You may feel tired for a day or have some mild pain in the collection site.

Martinez recommends drinking plenty of fluids before and after donating, to ensure you blood volume stays steady. There is a current nationwide shortage of donated blood, which makes this a great time to donate blood and save a life. MD Anderson cancer patients depend on donations of blood and platelets from our community. You are helping a fellow human being in need. Schedule a blood or platelet donation at MD Anderson Blood Bank , or donate in your local area to save a life.

My Chart. Donate Today. For Physicians. Cancer Moonshots. Cancerwise 08 3 reasons to donate blood. PAD patients who regularly donated blood had a lower risk of developing cancer than those who did not. Another danger of iron overload is the health of your liver. Though there are many other factors involved in these problems, donating blood can help relieve some of those iron stores and avoid extra issues in your liver.

While there are several physical benefits to donating blood, the most powerful health benefit is arguably in the psychological realm. Donating blood means that someone or multiple people somewhere will be getting the help they desperately need.

Donating blood, especially on a regular basis, can be similar to volunteer work. You give of your time and your literal blood to help strangers in need. This kind of regular, altruistic interaction has major psychological benefits. Getting out of your usual environment to do something good for someone else is stimulating in the best kind of way. Volunteering has been shown to have positive effects on happiness. In people over years-old, volunteering also reduces the risk of depression and loneliness.

The health benefits of donating blood are considerable—but of course, the most important part of the process is helping to save lives. These professionals save lives every day just by doing their jobs. It has since been updated to include information relevant to Insights from Patenaude and Dragoo remain from the original article. There are some errors in the form. Please correct the errors and submit again. By selecting "Submit," I authorize Rasmussen University to contact me by email, phone or text message at the number provided.

There is no obligation to enroll. Brianna is a content writer for Collegis Education who writes student focused articles on behalf of Rasmussen University. She earned her MFA in poetry and teaches as an adjunct English instructor. She loves to write, teach and talk about the power of effective communication. Posted in General Health Sciences. Brianna Flavin Ashley Brooks Will Erstad It can effectively detect problems that could indicate an underlying medical condition or risk factors for certain diseases.

The research is mixed on whether blood donation actually lowers risk of heart disease and heart attack. A 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 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 study suggests these observations are deceiving and are not a real physiological response. Blood donation is safe for healthy adults. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor. 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. You must register to donate blood. This includes providing identification, your medical history, and undergoing a quick physical examination.

Whole blood donation is the most common type of donation. This is because it offers the most flexibility. It can be transfused as whole blood or separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma for different recipients. These types of donations are performed using a process called apheresis. An apheresis machine is connected to both of your arms. It collects a small amount of blood and separates the components before returning the unused components back to you.