For many people, the thought of needles and donating blood can send them running for the hills. This common squeamishness is an unfortunate factor in South Africa’s low prevalence of blood donors, but perhaps knowing the benefits of blood donation may change this.
The scary fact is that South Africa has a severe blood supply shortage, resulting in the many lives that could have been saved by a blood transfusion succumbing to their illness or injuries.
If you don’t donate blood due to your aversion of needles, or simply don’t understand why it’s so important, have a look at these five reasons why you should be a regular blood donor (aside from the most obvious one – saving lives!) and see if they change your mind …
1. Helping people with illnesses:
It’s an unfortunate reality that many people know someone who has succumbed to or had cancer. Many common surgical procedures for cancer patients require blood transfusions, to either replace dangerous blood loss, or replace unhealthy blood cells in the patient. Chemotherapy, the most common cancer treatment, requires daily blood transfusions.
Other illnesses requiring blood transfusions include:
· Women with pregnancy complications
· Leukemia sufferers
· Children with anemia as a result from severe malnutrition, or malaria
· People with chronic illnesses such as thalassemia need regular blood transfusions
· Blood is needed to make medical products that treat sufferers of sickle cell disease.
2. Saving the lives of injured people
People who are involved in accidents or injure themselves resulting in high volumes of blood loss will need an emergency blood transfusion to quite literally save their lives. Extreme blood loss is a leading cause of death as a result of injury.
If wearing an invisible cape and giving the gift of life with your blood still seems too terrifying, perhaps knowing your own physical benefits of blood donation could help sway your opinion:
3. Reduce risk of heart attack, cancer and liver disease:
An iron overload in the body can dramatically increase the risk of developing heart attacks or liver ailments, as well as increasing your risk of getting cancer. By regularly donating blood, your body maintains a healthier iron level and thus reduces these risks.
Read this: 5 Simply incredible ways to improve your heart health
4. New blood cells:
When you donate blood, your body produces new, healthier blood cells to replenish the lost blood cells. Think of it as an internal cleansing!
5. Lower cholesterol:
Donating blood has been proven to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, thus also contributing to lowering the risk of heart disease.
Donating blood is easy, completely safe and almost painless and takes less than 45 minutes, (plus you normally get a delicious biscuit and juice when you are done.)
Who can donate blood?
Almost anyone over the age of 17 can donate blood. It’s important to note that you cannot donate blood if you suffer from serious illnesses such as:
· Autoimmune diseases
· Chronic illnesses of the heart or lungs
· HIV infection
· Previous history of drug abuse
· Previous history Hepatitis B or C
· Previous or current history of cancer
Statistics show that just one pint of blood could save up to 3 lives. So why not save a life in the easiest way possible? Hopefully knowing the benefits of blood donation will convince you to donate today. Visit the South African National Blood Service website here to find your nearest donation centre.
Your Health Insurance Family,
Oneplan
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