Important Health Benefits You Can Get From Donating Blood

Reduced Risk Of Cancer

Studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggest regular blood donors have lower rates of cancer than nondonors. When giving blood, some oxidized iron that has built up in the body is released from the bloodstream. Oxidized iron places stress on organs and accelerate aging. The build-up of iron in the body can also cause cancer.

Evidence reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2008 shows lower levels of iron in the body reduce the likelihood of cancerous tumor growth, and as mentioned earlier, regular blood donation reduces iron stores in the body. Although more research is needed to understand the link between regular blood donation and cancer risk, the initial results suggest donating blood has anti-cancer benefits.

Mini Medical Exam Before Donation

Every individual who gives blood has to have a mandatory health screening to ensure they are healthy enough to donate. This exam is also a precaution to help avoid running into issues with the individual who will be receiving the donor's blood. Additionally, this exam is at no cost to the person donating. This exam can identify risk factors for certain diseases the individual was unaware of, and it can detect issues that can be indicative of a serious underlying medical condition.

During this exam, the donor's pulse, body temperature, blood pressure levels, and hemoglobin levels are checked. Furthermore, the individual's blood is screened for several serious diseases that include HIV, hepatitis B, West Nile virus, hepatitis C, syphilis, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Their weight will be checked to ensure they weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and have enough blood volume to donate.