benefits of blood donation

"Blood donation is an activity that provides a number of health benefits. Starting from increasing the production of red blood cells, detecting disease to maintaining heart health."

Thedoctormedical , united states - There are many benefits that you can get when you donate blood, especially for other people who need it. According to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), according to calculations, the need for blood transfusions is 2 percent of the total population of Indonesia.

This activity is the right moment to spread goodness, as well as nourish the body. Not only for recipients, donors can also benefit. Check out the following list of health benefits of donating blood!

Benefits of Blood Donation

Here are the benefits of blood donation that you need to know:

1. Detect disease

Before you can donate blood , of course you have to pass a number of examinations. The standard procedure is a blood test to detect serious illness. There are several tests that you need to do, such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, to malaria.

This is important for you to do to anticipate disease transmission through blood transfusions. This procedure is also a "yellow light" for donors to pay more attention to their own health conditions.

2. Increase the production of blood cells

Donating blood doesn't mean you can reduce the level of blood you have. In fact, this activity can increase the production of red blood cells, you know . After doing so, blood cells will indeed be reduced. However, the spinal cord will soon produce new red blood cells to replace those lost.

This process will take several weeks. In other words, someone who donates blood regularly, his body will stimulate the formation of fresh new blood.

3. Longevity

According to many studies, doing good can make a person live about four years longer. Well, this is also a generous activity because you can help other people who are in need.

According to research from the Mental Health Foundation, blood donation can also maintain a person's emotional health. Helping others, such as donating blood can reduce stress levels to help eliminate negative feelings.

4. Maintain heart health

This activity is also useful for improving blood flow to prevent clogged arteries. Diligently donating blood can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 88 percent.

Not only that, donating blood can also minimize the risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attack. Interestingly, the benefits of blood donation can also stabilize iron levels in the blood.

5. Burn calories

Not many people know that this activity can burn calories, you know. Every 450 milliliters of blood you donate can burn up to 650 calories. So, make sure you drink lots of water and eat food before donating, okay !

Because, the body must be in prime condition when donating blood so that you don't experience negative side effects afterwards.

6. Reducing the risk of cancer

The main trigger for cancer cells is exposure to free radicals in the body. Well, this substance usually accumulates in your blood circulation. By doing so, the risk of cancer can be minimized. Including liver, lung, colon, stomach, and throat cancers

7. Lower cholesterol

Another health benefit of donating blood regularly is lowering cholesterol. This certainly can help you to lower cholesterol levels in the body.

By donating blood, cholesterol levels will decrease along with the duration of bleeding.

Blood Donor Requirements
Apart from going through various procedures, blood donors also have their own requirements. Donors must be at least 17 years old and a maximum of 70 years.

Meanwhile, the minimum body weight for donating blood is 45 kg, with systolic blood pressure below 180 and diastolic below 100, for people with high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, for people who have low blood pressure, a safe systolic/diastolic blood pressure is around 90/50. In addition, donors should also have a hemoglobin level of around 12.5–17 grams (g) of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL), and no more than 20 grams (g) of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL).

Conditions That Are Not Allowed to Donate Blood

In addition, there are also some people with certain health conditions who are not allowed to donate blood, such as:

1. People with diabetes

The activity of donating blood can affect hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in people with diabetes. This condition can last for at least two months after complete blood donation.

That's why, experts recommend that people with diabetes wait at least four months before making another donation.

2. People with cancer

Someone who has cancer, especially blood cancer is not allowed to do this activity. Apart from the nature of the disease, people with cancer are more susceptible to anemia and infection. As a result, the donor's actions can even endanger himself or the recipient of the donor.

3. People with infectious diseases

People with infectious diseases, such as syphilis, hepatitis B/C, and HIV also abstain from donating. This action can lead to transmission and spread of the virus thereby placing the recipient's health at risk. This is because the majority of infectious diseases can be transmitted through blood.

4. People with epilepsy

Blood donation is believed to be able to increase the risk of seizures. This risk is higher in those with epilepsy. For those who wish to donate blood, the sufferer must be seizure free and not need medication for at least three years.

5. People with blood disorders

Someone who has blood disorders, such as hemophilia is also not recommended to do it. Hemophilia is a disorder that prevents blood from clotting normally.

This condition makes the sufferer prone to bleeding. That is why, people with hemophilia should not donate blood because it can endanger their own health and that of the donor recipient.

6. Drug and alcohol addict

An addict or a former drug and alcohol addict is also not advised to donate blood. Because, illegal drugs and alcohol can be channeled through the bloodstream. As a result, this can endanger the donor recipient.

For ex-addicts, you should check with your doctor before doing this activity to ensure safety.

Conditions to postpone

In addition to the diseases above, there are also a number of conditions that should delay blood donation:

Fever and influenza: delay 1 week after recovery.
Tooth extraction: wait 5 days after healing.
Minor surgery: delay 6 months.
Major surgery: one year delay.
After receiving the transfusion: delay 1 year.
Tattoos, piercings, needling and transplants: wait 1 year.
Breastfeeding mothers: wait 3 months after stopping breastfeeding.
Recovered from malaria: delay 3 years after being free from malaria symptoms.
Have visited a malaria endemic area: delay 1 year.
Living in a malaria endemic area for 5 years: wait 3 years after leaving the area.
Recovering from typhoid: delay 6 months after recovery.
After receiving the vaccine: wait 8 months after.
Experiencing allergies: wait 1 week after healing.
Skin infection: delay 1 week after recovery.