For patients with certain health conditions, blood donation can help save their lives. However, it's actually not just for the recipient. There are various benefits of blood donation that can support the health of the body for the donor.
In blood donors, about 480 ml of blood will be taken from the body. After being checked and tested for safety, the blood will then be given to patients in need. Conditions that urgently require blood donation, including accidents, organ transplants, or having diseases such as cancer, anemia, sickle cell disease, and hemophilia. Even so, blood donation is not only beneficial for the patient or blood recipient, the donor or blood donor also gets the benefits of blood donation.
Understand the Benefits of Donating Blood
Here are some of the benefits of donating blood that can be felt if you donate blood:
- Maintain a healthy heart and blood circulationThe first benefit of blood donation is believed to help facilitate blood flow to prevent artery blockage. Research shows that diligently donating blood can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 88%. Not only that, donating blood makes you less sick and has a lower risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attack. In addition, regular blood donation makes iron levels in the blood stable.
- Increase the production of red blood cellsWhen donating blood, red blood cells will be reduced. The bone marrow will immediately produce new red blood cells to replace the lost ones. The replacement of red blood cells takes several weeks. This means donating blood regularly, making the body stimulate the formation of fresh new blood.
- Extend lifeDoing good can make a person live longer. According to research, people who are helpful and selfless have a longer lifespan of about four years.
- Detect serious illnessWhenever you want to donate blood, the standard procedure is a blood test to detect serious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and malaria. This is important information to anticipate the transmission of disease through blood transfusions, as well as a warning so that you pay more attention to your own health condition.
The benefits of donating blood are no less important, namely health checks. This is because the nurse will check body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin levels. After the blood donation is complete, your blood will be sent to a laboratory for different tests. If a blood disorder is found, you will definitely be notified immediately.
World Health Organization or World Health Organization (WHO) declares World Blood Donor Day every July 14. Given the many benefits of donating blood, you can do it regularly at the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) or the nearest hospital.