On an ordinary day at work, my health-enthusiastic coworker shared an incredible story. He didn’t just talk about the life he saved by giving blood, but also the amazing way it made him feel. Therefore, It got me thinking: what if donating blood is a win-win for everyone? Curious? Let’s dive into this eye-opening journey and uncover the unexpected rewards of giving blood.
An Unexpected Revelation
Let’s start, while having breakfast at work my coworker started to talk about the coincidence he lived through last night. He’s a regular blood donator, but It was differently that night. He was watching the local TV channel, when breaking news interrupted it. The Hospital was urgently looking for a specific blood type, for a live threatening operation the next morning. My coworker let’s call him Moe, due to being a regular blood donator, knew it was his type of blood. No need to think twice and he rushed to the hospital.
After signing up at the reception, finishing the donation, he went to see the patient that is need. Entering the patients room Moe recognized the voice, perplexed and fazed, he saw his uncle in the hospital bed. Surrounded by the aunt and a few friends, she was asking Moe what he is doing at the hospital that late. Moe answered he just donated blood for a patient in need and wanted to see who it is. As the room fell silent, everyone realized the serendipity of the moment. In the vast web of life, Moe’s simple act of kindness had unknowingly woven a thread of hope for his own family.
The Dual Benefits
More than just a Good Deed
It’s normal that your body renews it’s cells regularly. But what if you can give this process a little boost. When you donate blood, your body needs to compensate for the blood loss. The reaction ? The bone marrow immediately starts producing new red blood cells to make up for the ones lost, creating a higher cellular turnover. This boosted renewal process helps to increase the white blood cell count, which will enhance the efficiency of your immune system. Furthermore, the fresh red blood cells are more effective in filtering out waste products and toxins from your body.
How your Body Benefits
Another bonus is the decreased risk of certain diseases. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study, saying that regular blood donator are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack and 33% less likely to acquire any type of cancer. This can be due to the previous mention of increased detoxification and enhancement in the blood cells efficiency. Another reason would be, new blood cells improve the blood flow, which , reduces the risk of blockages and promotes cardiovascular health.
Problems with Iron ? Blood donation helps in maintaining the balance of iron in the body. When you donate blood, the iron stored in the blood cells is lost, which signals the body to absorb iron from food and supplements more efficiently. This can prevent conditions like hemochromatosis (iron overload) and ensure that iron is utilized properly for hemoglobin production.
Do you need some assistance in losing weight ? According to the University of San Diego, each donation of 470ml of blood burns about 650 calories. Simply because the body needs to start working and produce new blood cells, the energy for it comes from the calories. In addition, you might feel cold after donating. The loss of heat has to be compensated by the body and is paid in calories. Reach your weight goal and save others !
Mental Benefits
Is there something greater than a win win situation ? Receiving will save a life, donating benefits your physical- and mental health.
The Power of Altruism. Giving without expecting anything in return. Altruistic actions, like blood donation, activate the brain’s reward centers. This reward center releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, often associated with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.
Bad Mood ? Here we go ! The phenomenon known as the “helper’s high.” After performing a good deed, many individuals report feeling a surge of warmth and increased energy, followed by a period of calm and reduced negative emotions. This can definitely wash away the dark clouds in your mind.
Understanding the Impact. Donating blood is more than just a little deed. There are real persons and real life consequences behind it. Every donation will have an impact on someone’s life. You can be the hero in someone’s story. This can provide you with a sense of purpose and boost your self-worth. Those factors can reduce your risk of depression and increase your risk of feeling amazing.
Stress Here Comes Relief. A study of the journal “Health Psychology” showed acts of kindness, such as blood donation, can lead to reduced levels of stress and anxiety. A lot of people who engaged in acts of kindness experienced lower levels of stress.
The Donation Process Demystified
How often should you go ? It could be once a year, every 6 months or every quarter. According to the American Red Cross a perfect amount would be every 8 weeks. 8-weeks ensure that donors have enough time to recover and are not at risk of iron deficiency or other complications from donating too frequently.
What happens ? The donation process begins with a registration step to gather essential details. After, brief medical check ensures the donor is fit and their blood is safe for transfusion. While the entire process lasts an hour, the actual blood draw is swift, taking just 10 minutes. After donating, refreshments are provided to help donors recover and rehydrate.
Post-Donation Care
Tips for Quick Recovery and Regeneration
First and foremost, blood roughly consists of 50% Water. Therefore, the logical conclusion is the urgent need of water to reestablish the balance in your body. Proper hydration not only boosts recovery but also helps maintain stable blood pressure levels. To sum up, add 4 cups of water to your regular need.
Avoid working out. The loss of blood is a stressful situation for your body, which costs decent amount of energy. Adding heavy lifting and working out is puts a huge amount of stress on your heart. The feeling of dizziness or a blackout can also happen while working out. You should avoid any form of physical activity for at least 5 hours after donation. Rest should be your main focus anyway !
Get your Nutrients Back ! The loss of blood includes the loss of certain nutrients as Iron, Proteins and Electrolytes. After your donation you should get a nutritious meal consisting of Proteins, Vitamin B6 and B12, Zinc, leafy greens and vegetables for folic acid, and a sports drink containing electrolytes, as well as iron rich foods. A great tip is to vitamin C rich food, as strawberries or bell peppers to increase the iron absorption. For some post donation recipes check our Instagram here.
Keep the Bandage on. After giving blood, the bandage keeps the needle spot clean and stops any small bleeding. In addition, it helps to safeguard you from potential infections and bacteria. It also reminds you to be careful with that arm. So, it’s a good idea to leave the bandage on for a few hours.
Taking the Next Step: How You Can Make a Difference
Are you interested now ? Here are the next steps you should take to start your journey. Become a Regular Donor, go to Google and search for ”Blood donation near me”, if you found one that is suiting you, schedule an appointment or just walk in ! Don’t forget consistency in donation ensures a steady supply of blood for those in need. This way you get maximize your health benefits too !
Furthermore, you can you spread the word about blood donation, to your family, friends, workplace and community. You can encourage them with your new learned knowledge or just by sending the link of our blog post. If you have some willing donors that want to save lives and enhance their health, the next step would be to organize Blood Drives. Where you make it a every 2 months event to do some good !
Lastly, raise awareness of the benefits of donating blood. Share your personal experiences and the stories of those whose lives have been touched by blood donations. Use social media platforms, community events, and local media outlets to highlight the importance. Every time you speak out, you inspire others to make a difference. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change, ensuring that everyone who needs blood has access to it. So, take the first step today and become the hero in someone’s life.
Conclusion
Blood donation is more than a simple act of kindness; it’s the way to better health for donors. By giving blood, you not only contribute to saving lives but also gain physical and mental benefits. Spreading awareness, sharing personal experiences, and engaging in regular donations can create a real impact in our communities. Let’s join hands in this noble cause, making a difference in both our lives and the lives of countless others.
Thank you so much for reading, we hope we could make a difference and inspire you to save lives and become the greatest version of yourself. If you want to read another blog post you should click Here.
Sources
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute: https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/100/8/572/927859?searchresult=1
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2015/06/14/default-calendar/world-blood-donor-day-2015
University of San Diego: https://myhealth.ucsd.edu/Library/DiseasesConditions/Pediatric/Blood/85,P00084
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/pauses-and-moments/201401/perhaps-a-different-kind-of-american-idol-the-nominees-are
Rasmussen: https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/surprising-health-benefits-of-donating-blood/
Columbia University: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/surprising-benefits-donating-blood
