Donating blood even once can help save the lives of three people — whether they’re newborns needing heart surgery, adults badly injured in car crashes, or people of any age suffering from cancer.
You may be surprised to learn that donating blood is not only lifesaving, but that it has many health benefits for the donor as well.
What are the benefits of blood donation?
Mini-Physical
Aside from the results of the mini-physical, which can alert you to some health issues you may be having, such as high blood pressure, your blood will also be screened for other illnesses before it is cleared to be donated.
These screenings include tests for Hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, HTLV, and West Nile Virus.
If any of these diseases are detected, the blood is not used for donation and the donor is notified.
RELATED: How Does Your Donated Blood Get to a Patient in Need?
Iron Control
Many people are surprised to find that not only is donating blood safe, but it could actually improve their health by lowering the risk of certain types of disease.
With the mostly animal-based diet that’s the norm in this country; the majority of people are getting more iron than they need, with the exception of pre-menopausal women who lose iron through their monthly menstrual flow.
Getting enough iron is important, but too much iron in the body can be a problem too.
Iron has a pro-oxidant effect, meaning high levels cause free radical damage that increases the risk of