TheBuzzReads.com | Explore Popular Blogs

Understanding blood donation – Eligibility criteria and benefits

Blood donation is an important part of healthcare, as it enables blood transfusion—a treatment option that can sustain and save lives. Data suggests that there are 11 million donors in the country, and over 11.5 million units of blood are collected in a year. Before the process begins, each donor is asked questions to assess the risk of bloodborne infections. Blood can be donated every 56 days and up to six times a year.

Eligibility criteria
One must meet the following criteria to be eligible to donate blood:

One must be fit and healthy on the day of the blood donation.
Depending on state law, one should be at least 16 or 17 years old. Some states enable legal minors to donate with parental approval. Although there is no legal maximum age, donor facilities may have different policies.
You must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.
You must be able to pass the health history and physical exams.

Benefits
Blood donation can benefit both the recipients and the donors. Some of the key benefits of blood donation are:

Contributing to society: The only way to supplement blood loss is through donated human blood. Donating blood is seen as a noble cause, as it can help in the treatment of cancer, bleeding disorders, sickle cell anemia, and genetic blood abnormalities. According to the American Red Cross, donating one unit of blood might save the lives of up to three people.

Health exam: Before donating blood, each donor goes through a quick health check and blood test. Although these tests are not extensive, they may be able to detect health conditions such as anemia or high or low blood pressure. The examination covers the donors’ iron levels, blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate. One will not be able to donate blood if the test results indicate a problem in any of those parameters. However, the outcomes might serve as a starting point for treatment.

Prevents certain health issues: Blood donation can help reduce the risk of heart and liver damage caused by iron overload. An excessively iron-rich nutritional regimen can lead to conditions such as iron buildup in the heart and liver. Donating blood helps keep iron levels in check and reduces the risk of associated diseases.

Stimulates blood cell production: Following blood donation, the body works to make up for the blood loss. This stimulates the production of fresh blood cells, which helps maintain good health.

One should consult a doctor before donating blood to check for health issues or concerns. One should also follow a balanced meal plan for a few weeks before donating. Blood donations must be carried out at a blood bank, a hospital, or another setting with the presence of health professionals. On the day of the donation, one should have enough fluids to ensure hydration. Following such safety measures will help donors have a smooth and healthy experience.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.