The Benefits of Donating Blood

I'll come right out and say it: I hate needles! But one needle I'll gladly put up with when stuck in my arm is the one that is offered up by the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) during their bi-monthly blood drives.

What do they say about donating blood? It's the "gift that keeps on giving?" Well, research has added another feather into its cap when it comes to donating blood: not only is it good for your local community blood supply, but it's good for your own as well. That's according to a new study published by the American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org), that found that giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in test participants ages 43 to 61.

According to www.bloodcenters.org, excessive iron is thought to contribute to heart disease, especially at its early stages. Donating blood on a regular basis reduces the iron stores in the body and this study supports the theory that reducing iron appears to preserve heart and vascular health.What a win/win situation, huh? Give blood to someone who needs it and do your own body good at the same time. What's more, regular blood donations may help keep the body's circulatory system healthy by reducing stores of iron, but the effect may not work for older people. The site www.thatsfit.com points out that over a period of six years, researchers examined more than 1,200 men and women, aged 43 to 87, who had peripheral arterial disease, a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. They were divided into two groups, and blood was drawn every six months to promote iron reduction from one set of patients.

When looked at overall, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of circulatory health. But when only the younger patients (43 to 61) were analyzed, there were fewer deaths, heart attacks, and strokes among those in the iron-reduction group.

But when the researchers analyzed the results just for younger patients aged 43 to 61 they found fewer deaths from all causes in the iron-reduction group, and also fewer nonfatal heart attacks and strokes.

According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (www.jama.ama-assn.org), researchers say that donating blood is a "....safe and inexpensive, and correlates to routine blood donation (and) appears to contribute to improved vascular health..."

Researchers add however, that for overall safety people should not try to donate blood just to lower their iron levels. In fact, reductions in iron can also be achieved through dietary restrictions or drug treatment.

Think of iron as Mother Nature's rusting agent. Having an excessive level of iron in your body is one of the most potent ways that your body oxidizes, or prematurely ages.

And while we're at it --- here's a few tips on donating blood (courtesy of the American Red Cross):

- To give blood for transfusion to another person, you must be healthy, be at least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days). "Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, "healthy" also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control.

- Other aspects of each potential donor's health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and blood count (hemoglobin or hematocrit) are measured.

- You must weigh at least 110 Lbs to be eligible for blood donation for your own safety. Blood volume is in proportion to body weight. Donors who weight less than 110Lbs may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood as well as those who weigh more than 110Lbs. There is no upper weight limit as long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor bed/lounge you are using. You can discuss any upper weight limitations of beds and lounges with your local health historian.

- Afterwards, your blood will be tested for syphilis, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), hepatitis and other factors. We will notify you if tests show you may be unhealthy. Your blood will not be used if it could make someone sick.

Donating blood - one of the few acts of philanthropy that not only makes you feel good, but aides countless others.