According to research findings, apart from saving lives donating blood has many unexpected, yet little-discussed health benefits for the donor.
Why donate blood?
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on 14 June each year and blood services are urging people to please consider spending 20 minutes of their time every 56 days to donate much-needed blood.
Blood loss has to be replenished and because blood cannot be manufactured in a laboratory the only way to do so is via donated blood. Donating a unit of this precious “gift of life” can save up to three lives at a time.
Although donating blood is certainly an altruistic act and the right thing to do; it’s also one that offers important yet little-discussed health benefits to the donor! So, what’s in it for the donor?
Blood donors have lower health risks
A study published in America found that blood donors were 33% less likely to suffer a cardiovascular disease and 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack in their life time. They found that those between the ages of 43 and 61 years of age who had donated blood every six months had fewer heart attacks and strokes. Other studies found that the risk levels of being diagnosed with any type of cancer also decreased in correlation with how often donors donated blood.
Blood donors have “free flowing” blood
Repeated blood donations may help keep blood thin and free flowing. Thick and slow moving blood increases the risk of having a blood clot or stroke.
Blood donors get rid of excess iron
By donating blood regularly, high levels of iron are removed from the blood. The body has a limited capacity to excrete iron and it can therefore easily build up to dangerous levels in organs such as the liver, heart and pancreas. High blood iron can cause a variety of nasty symptoms and can enlarge the liver. Premenopausal women who menstruate regularly rarely suffer from iron overload but many adult men and postmenopausal women tend to be at a high risk of iron overload.
Blood donors get free medicals
People who wish to donate blood are treated to a free physical examination to make sure they are healthy. Healthy people are generally already at a lower risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.
Blood donors lose weight
Believe it or not but regularly donating blood has also been found to help those wishing to lose weight. The process of replenishing the blood lost during a donation burns a lot of kilojoules. Lost blood volume is replaced within 48 hours after donating blood while it takes about four to eight weeks to replenish red blood cells. That is also the reason why, by law, regular donors are only allowed to donate blood every 56 days.
Blood donors feel good
Maurice Creswick, an 89 year-old pensioner who has been donating blood since he was 18 years of age, says that donating blood is something that he is passionate about “as it makes you feel that there is more to life than just living!”. He has donated 408 units and holds the Guinness World Record for most blood donated.
Become a donor today
In South Africa, contact South African National Blood Servise (SANBS) at 0800 11 9031 or 082 524 2936 on public holidays and Saturdays
In Namibia, contact the Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (Nam BTS) at 061 386 300
Sources
Become a donor. Retrieved from: http://www.sanbs.org.za/index.php/become-a-donor
Cabuco, J. 2014. The health benefits of donating blood. Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Your-Blood/The-health-benefits-of-donating-blood-20140610
Mohlabe, M. 2015. SA celebrates World Blood Donor Day. Retrieved from: www.sabc.co.za/news/a/
Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (Nam BTS). Contact us. Retrieved from: http://www.bts.com.na/contact-us