Dr. Sheetal Manrekar
Today (June 14) is World Blood Donor Day.
Donate blood. Save lives. Get healthier.
Blood and blood products obtained by blood donation can help save the lives of millions of people. Blood is required for medical problems like-
– Anaemia
– Trauma
– Complications during pregnancy and delivery
– Surgical emergencies
– Medical conditions like Thalassaemia, Sickle cell disease, Clotting factor deficiency (Hemophilia)
– Blood cancers
– Cancer patients on chemotherapy
Blood cannot be synthetically manufactured. Blood donated by donors is the ONLY source!
World Blood Donor Day. Pixabay
Blood donation not only helps those in need but it also has certain health benefits for the blood donors.
It decreases blood viscosity (thickness of blood) and enables a better flow of blood in the body. This also prevents damage to the arteries and maintains a healthy heart and blood vessels.
It regulates iron levels in the blood. Presence of excess iron in the blood can be damaging to blood vessels due to oxidative stress.
It regulates blood regeneration. Replacement of the red cells takes 48 hours and complete replacement takes 1-2 months.
Lowers the risk of certain cancers (liver lung colon, stomach, throat).
Evaluations done before blood donation enable donors to get regular check-ups and monitor their health.
It provides a sense of fulfillment and optimism as you know you have done a good deed.
This article was originally published in Same Condition. SameCondition is an online platform for patients and people looking to connect with others dealing with same (medical) conditions.