For years, donating blood has been saving the lives of many people. As per stats, someone requires blood every two seconds as a result of trauma, injury, underlying disease, etc. Loss of blood creates several disturbances within the body. In some situations, heavy loss of blood becomes fatal, which is when the need for blood transfusion is observed.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the 14th of June every year. It is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safe blood donations and to thanking voluntary blood donors for their contributions to saving the lives of hundreds of people. Blood donation has benefits for your health as well.
Listed below are some surprising benefits of blood donation for your health.
Improved Immune System
As per several studies, regular blood donation boosts your immune system. Every time you donate blood, the red blood cells recycle themselves. It promotes the production of new blood cells, which are healthy. People who donate blood regularly have a healthier immune system than people who do not.
Reduced Risk of Heart Ailments
Not many people know this, but donating blood helps reduce the risks of heart diseases, such as heart attacks. When you donate blood, it removes iron from your system, which lowers the risk of heart attacks. Besides this, blood donation also helps boost blood flow, making it less damaging for vessels.
A Better Skin
One of the lesser-known benefits of blood donation is that it helps improve the skin. Skin ageing is common among both genders and is characterised by an extensive range of structural and physiological changes. Ageing leads to wrinkles, roughness, dryness, dullness, and reduction of dermal thickness. Donating blood is associated with increased collagen production which minimises these signs of ageing. The next time you want a reason to donate blood, imagine yourself with healthy skin.
Lowered Risk of Cancer
Cancer has become a relatively common disease among people these days. Blood donation is linked to a decreased risk of cancer. The process of extracting blood from the body is a great iron-balancing method that plays a vital role in reducing the risk of cancer and mortality. Various kinds of cancers like liver, lung, colon, stomach, and more can be prevented through blood donation.
Weight Management
As per many studies, blood donation may help in weight management. It helps burn the fat and lose weight, as donating blood can burn around 650 calories. A single round of blood donation may help you lose a sizable amount of calories. Donating blood also lowers the levels of cholesterol in the body. A regular donor is advised to volunteer for blood donation every 56 days.
Free Health Assessment
Blood donation also helps you assess your health. Before donation, you undergo a quick health screening, which involves measuring your pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and haemoglobin levels. Although this screening doesn’t qualify as a substitute for annual health check-ups, it may help uncover an underlying medical condition you may not be aware of, such as high blood pressure. The blood given for donation is tested for various infectious diseases, such as HIV. These elements give you an understanding of your overall health.
Promotes Production of New Cells
For people who fear that donating blood would affect their healthy bodies, blood donation helps promote the production of new blood cells. The blood loss you experience after donating blood is replenished, enhancing your overall health. You can call blood donation a natural oil change for your body.
Improved Liver Health
Donating blood has benefits for your entire body, including the liver. As per many studies, donating blood removes all the impurities from it. Blood impurities are directly linked to various liver ailments, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis C, and other life diseases and infections.
Reduced Iron Overload
While all the nutrients are beneficial to maintain overall health, the excess may do otherwise. For instance, excess iron stored in the liver, heart, joints, or pancreas may cause these organs to be damaged. Donating blood regularly reduces such overload of iron in the body, thus maintaining iron levels and lowering the risk of hemochromatosis.
Improved Emotional Well-Being
Donating blood can lift your spirits, and significant emotional and mental health benefits may be derived from this practice. As per research, donating blood may reduce stress and enhance emotional health. A blood donor may get a sense of belonging and accomplishment. As a result, their negative emotions may be overpowered by a greater feeling, thus improving their psychological well-being.
Takeaway
The benefits of donating blood go beyond good deeds. They also help maintain your overall health in many ways. It is not only vital to keep donating blood from time to time, you must educate people around you about the significance of this practice. Why wait? Go to your nearest blood bank and do your bit for society, and some for your health too!
