Important Things You Need to Know Before Donating Blood

Almost all of us are more or less familiar with the term "blood donation" these days. Blood donation is the process of voluntarily donating blood to someone suffering from a blood-related disease or anemia, as per the doctor's recommendation.

Blood donation is a highly honorable act, no doubt. By blood transfusion, you can save the lives of sick people while you experience subtle satisfaction and peace of mind.

However, there are several things you need to know before giving blood. You may go through various issues or complications if blood is not donated properly. That's why you need to have the correct information, only after which you shall proceed. Now, you might be thinking about why blood donation is necessary. You'll get to know about it shortly.

Why is Blood Donation Necessary?

A bag of blood can save a life after an accident, during childbirth or surgery, or in cases of complicated illnesses like cancer or thalassemia.

Many of you might think that giving blood is a simple activity. However, it is actually the world's greatest and most unselfish act. Some people hold erroneous beliefs about giving blood. They believe that giving blood can result in physical harm, blood loss, or weight gain. But nevertheless, regularly giving blood actually has many positive effects without harming your body in any way.

A study found that giving blood regularly lowers the risk of being prone to a variety of cancers. After donating blood, the production of red blood cells increases in the human body. Blood donation is extremely advantageous if your body has a propensity to store iron. It lowers blood cholesterol levels, and in some cases, it also aids in blood pressure management.

In human bodies, bacteria that cause AIDS, Syphilis, malaria, hepatitis B and C may be latent or asymptomatic. A blood test can be used to determine whether certain microbes are present in the body prior to blood donation.

Who may give blood and what requirements must be met

During times of need, giving blood can save lives. Several factors determine whether or not you'll be able to donate blood. Age, weight, hemoglobin level, blood pressure, temperature, and others are some of them.

Conditions for donating blood:

1. Anyone between 18 to 60 years who is physically and mentally healthy can donate blood.

2. Those who weigh 50 kg or more (sometimes a person weighing 45 kg can also donate blood as per a doctor's advice).

3. A person can donate blood again after 4 months of donating once.

Those who cannot donate blood:

You cannot donate blood if you are physically fragile, you have just undergone surgery, or you are ill with a fever or infection. Also, those who have recently received HIV or cancer treatment and those who have had an organ transplant within the past year can't donate blood. Moreover, pregnant women can't give blood too.

There are other reasons for not being able to donate blood:

1. If the hemoglobin level in the blood is low (men should have a minimum of 12 grams/deciliter, and women should have a minimum of 11 grams/deciliter of hemoglobin for blood donation).

2. If the blood pressure and body temperature are not normal, then blood cannot be given in that condition.

3. If there is any respiratory system disease, such as asthma.

4. If there is any blood-borne disease, such as Hepatitis B, C, Jaundice, AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Malaria, etc. Also, donating blood should be avoided if there is typhoid, diabetes, heart disease, or skin disease.

5. Blood cannot be given to pregnant women or menstruating women. And blood should not even be given within 1 year of childbirth.

6. Those who are undergoing certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or antibiotics, cannot be given blood at that time.

7. Those who have had any major accident or surgery within the last 6 months will not be able to donate blood.

Some points to consider just before giving blood

Donating blood means selflessly benefiting people, which is undoubtedly a good deed. But before that, you need to be careful not to cause any harm while saving others or the recipient of blood. Therefore some things should be kept in mind.

1. Make sure you are in good health and if you have the possibility of getting physically ill after donating blood.

2. Do not take aspirin till 2 days before blood donation.

3. Go to bed early the day before you are to donate blood.

4. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking before donating blood.

5. Eat nutritious food before donating blood and avoid oily or fried food.

6. Drink plenty of fluids like saline, fruit juice, and water.

7. Don't eat the food right before blood donation.

What to do following a blood donation

What to do after giving blood is the most frequent query received. You will be provided the solution to all your problems in this part and some further advice on how to deal with complications that may arise after giving blood.

1. Keep the arm strip bandaged for at least a few hours.

2. Drink plenty of water or saline.

3. After opening the bandage, clean the area well with soapy water to avoid a rash.

4. Avoid carrying, lifting, or heavy lifting on the day of blood donation.

5. If the part of the hand to take blood is bleeding, straighten the hand and hold it with the other hand for 5-10 minutes until the bleeding stops.

6. If you feel dizzy or have any physical discomfort after a blood transfusion, sit or lie down and rest.

How to recover from blood donation

Understanding how to stay safe or heal after donating blood is even more crucial. Some of you might find blood donation quite stressful, and the side effects are sometimes challenging to manage.

After giving blood, if you begin to feel worn out, lightheaded, or weak, stop doing your usual activities and spend the day relaxing. Consume lots of liquids, such as fruit juice, salt water, and bottled water. Skip the alcohol.

And if the illness still persists, consult the doctor as soon as possible.