Introduction:
Every year, millions of people require blood transfusions to save their life. There is no replacement for human blood; all blood transfusions use blood from a donor. A blood transfusion may be required after an accident, during surgery, or because certain diseases require certain components of blood. The required amount of blood for blood transfusion is made possible through blood donation, and it is a completely safe procedure when sterile and new disposable equipment is used during the procedure. Following sterile and new equipment puts people at minimal risk of getting a bloodborne infection during blood donation. However, routine blood donation can significantly deplete the iron stores in the body. And restoring the lost iron in the body will take months which can put donors on the edge of anemia (deficiency of red blood cells).
What Is the Link Between Iron Level and Blood Donation?
Iron is an important mineral that helps in the transportation of oxygen to different organs, muscles, and tissues in the body. It also plays a key role in converting food consumed by an individual into energy for their body. So an individual's good health depends on the amount of iron in the body.
The body's red blood cell (RBC) level is measured during every blood donation, which denotes the number of red blood cells in circulation. The RBC level normally remains constant unless the stored iron is depleted. Such depletion happens during excess menstruation, injury, or blood donation. Although a person's body will replace the volume of donated blood within 24 hours after donation, this does not implicate that the red blood cell volume is replenished, which could take days or months to recover. The body naturally replaces the lost iron in the days and weeks after blood donation. Once the iron stores are replaced, the body stops absorbing iron to prevent excess iron accumulation in the body. If a person is low in iron or who donates blood frequently, like three times a year, it is recommended to take iron supplements to build up their red blood cells.
Does Blood Donation Affect the Donors?
For decades, a question frequently being asked by many people in the field of blood donation is whether donating blood actually harms the donors. To determine how blood donation affects the donors, many researchers conducted a study by following regular donors who were low in iron but not anemic. During the study, the donated blood was screened to know whether the donors had low iron in their blood and for transfusion quality. More than 75 percent of people were low in iron, and they were divided into two groups.
In one group, donors received intravenous iron to treat their iron deficiency, and in the other group, they received a saline placebo. The participants were asked to donate blood after four to six months, and a survey was conducted to check their quality of life surveys and cognitive function. To a big surprise, there were no big differences in the quality of life, cognitive performance, or transfusion quality between participants who received iron replenishment and those who had not. So the survey suggests that there is no harm to the donors while donating blood.
What Changes Happen to the Body After Blood Donation?
Short-Term Impact on the Body After Blood Donation:
Soon after blood donation, a minority of donors may experience fatigue, light-headedness, or nausea due to sudden loss of iron and water, but this will be replaced soon after as they are replenished. The immediate impact on the body due to blood donation is red blood cell loss; this loss will be replaced soon at an astounding rate by the body. After RBC loss, bone marrow receives a message that the overall oxygen levels in the body are lower. So there will be an increase in the output of stem cells, which will later become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
To minimize short-term adverse reactions of blood loss, it is necessary to prepare the body for the suspected loss by intake of iron-rich food and drinking plenty of fluids. The body should be well nourished soon after the blood donation.
Long-Term Impact on the Body After Blood Donation:
There are many benefits of regular blood donation in the long term. A journal reveals that about 88 percent of blood donors are less prone to heart attacks. This can be due to changes in blood flow after blood donation. The blood has low viscosity, so there is less damage to the blood vessels. Blood donation regulates the iron level in the body, as high iron content in the blood can damage blood vessels. For people with iron deficiency and taking oral iron supplements before blood donation, blood donation rarely helps regulate iron levels.
What Are the Benefits of Blood Donation?
Blood donation is not only beneficial for the recipient, but the donor also has many benefits, which include:
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Stress reduction.
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Improvement in emotional well-being.
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Benefit for physical well-being.
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Eliminates negative thoughts and feelings.
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Lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases.
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Lowers risk of a heart attack.
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Decreases certain cancer risks.
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Helps in weight loss by burning calories.
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Improves the liver's health.
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Improves immunity.
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Before donation, there will be screening for infections like HIV, hepatitis, malaria, and syphilis.
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Blood donation provides a mini health checkup by checking temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin.
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Reduces iron overload possibility.
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Provide a sense of belonging and reduce isolation.
What Are the Side Effects of Blood Donation?
Side effects after blood donation are very rare. Only three to ten percent of people experience side effects after blood donation. The common side effect of blood donation is bruising or bleeding at the site of the needle, which can be stopped by applying pressure or raising a hand for a couple of minutes. Other side effects, which are less common, include fatigue, drowsiness, light-headedness, and nausea, which can be eliminated by taking iron-rich food before donating blood and drinking plenty of fluids after blood donation.
Conclusion
A voluntary blood donation is a kind act that can save many people's lives who have undergone surgery, accidents, or serious health conditions because blood cannot be artificially produced. But many refrain from donating blood, believing it could harm their health. But, blood donation does not harm when carried out properly; moreover, it is beneficial for the donors.
