Blood donation, the voluntary act of allowing one's blood to be drawn out of body has many advantages besides giving that wonderful feeling of saving someone's life. Most of the time it is an act of charity, though sometimes many people donate blood for money and other incentives. The blood donated is stored in blood banks, to be subsequently used for transfusion.
Blood donation is not hazardous and it proves to be a healthy habit that helps blood renewal. The volume of blood donation is 370:400 ml, almost 7.5% of the adult blood volume. It is compensated in a short period of time.
When you donate blood, You will get a medical examination including medical history , hemoglobin estimation and blood group determination.The donated blood will be tested for hepatitis B, C, HIV viruses, syphilis microbe, together with liver function tests also HCV RNA by PCR.you will receive the results confidentially or if you want they can be mailed to you.
Blood donation benefits many people. One pint of blood benefits donors in the following ways:
* Each pint of whole blood donated by one person helps three other people.
* One pint of blood may be separate into its various components such as plasma, red blood cells and others. If one pint of blood is used as components, it can help seven people.
* Blood donation benefits surgical patients. A liver transplant patient, for example, may need up to ten pints of blood during surgery. Blood transfusions are needed during many types of surgery and for accident victims.
* People undergoing chemotherapy and radiation benefit from blood donation.
* Individuals with sickle-cell anemia need blood donations to replace their red blood cells.
* Donated blood saves the lives of premature infants and children. Many of these tiny patients require blood transfusions, and only blood from a donor can help them.
Blood donation is an excellent way to get rid of excess iron accumulated in our body due to its overconsumption. Excess iron in the body can stimulate the formation of free radicals, which are responsible for causing damage to body cells and tissues. Free radicals are also associated with many diseases like heart diseases and cancer.
Iron overloading is also thought to increase the risk of heart diseases. Besides, iron oxidizes cholesterol, which is harmful for the arteries. Hemochromatosis is a genetic disease characterized by excess accumulation of iron in the tissues due to improper metabolism. The disease can cause damage to many organs like pancreas, adrenal glands, etc.
It may also cause diabetes, liver diseases and heart diseases. So, donating blood on a regular basis would help you to regulate the level of iron in your body. Studies have shown that donating blood regularly can be beneficial for the heart and circulatory system and can reduce the risk of heart diseases, especially among young people.
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