Besides fulfilling the massive demand for blood throughout the world, blood donation has also proven to be beneficial to the donor. However, all donors must meet certain criteria for blood donation, including having blood that does not carry diseases and contains sufficient levels of haemoglobin. A blood test is administered to verify the health of the donor. Listed below are a few of the major health benefits of donating blood:
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- Includes a health check-up
The donor undergoing the procedure would also be subjected to a brief physical examination and blood test, which often helps to detect health concerns which otherwise might go unnoticed. The check-up covers the donor’s cardiovascular health, including conditions like high blood pressure or a heart arrhythmia.
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- Prevents iron overload
Blood donation also obstructs the donor’s chance of developing Hemochromatosis, thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack or blood clots.
- Lowers cancer risks
While this may not be applicable to healthy donors, blood donation may reduce the chances of developing cancer if the donor has specific health conditions, some of them being Hemochromatosis, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), etc. It has been proven that lower iron levels equate to a lower risk of cancer as well.
- Prevents liver diseases
Reduced iron levels may be linked to the prevention of liver complications such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Hepatitis C. Conditions like liver failure and pancreatic damage are hindered by lowering the iron in the body.
- Improves overall wellbeing
Donating blood can also result in better health, including possibly increasing the donor’s life span. Studies performed in 2007 and 2015 conclude that blood donors had a 30% lower chance of dying from any cause. Besides this, the altruistic nature of blood donation has been proven to carry psychological benefits.
