What changed in me on my 65th birthday? I diidn't notice anything, and I'm still in robust health 20 years later. Perhaps a Doctor's certificate would enable older folk to continue giving blood? (I'm a male)
2006-10-04 09:20:43 · 10 answers · asked by Malcolm 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
As we age the replacement system for every body tissue slows down, including blood production! If you had a crisis (accident etc) after giving blood it could be that your system may not cope because your blood is not back to full "strength". The slowing down of production of cells is a gradual process but to maintain optimum quality supplies the transfusion service need to have a cut off point for donations.
I am 45. I used to donate regularly, but then they changed the rules so that because of a regular medication I take I could no longer give blood! My blood was the same as it had been for many years but its easy to see the sense of this type of rule. The same applies to age upper (and lower!) limits.
I doubt that a doctors certificate would change much but it may be worth giving it a go...nothing ventured.... :D
2006-10-04 09:38:18 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Basically because in general the quality of a person's blood does decline with age. Although there is probably a 100 year old with really high quality blood somewhere in the world. Anyway there has tp be some cut-off point or lots of people whose blood would be of too low quality would donate leading to a further expensive screening test done on every sample. Basically to avoid having the NHS pay for this test there is an age limit based upon statistics of when blood is likely to reach lower quality. Although a good percantage of 65 year olds will have great blood this percentage is too low to justify the cost of another set of tests on each blood sample.
2006-10-04 09:34:02 · answer #2 · answered by monkeymanelvis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it may be a case of, the older you get the slower your body is to replace the donated blood.
I think it is a daft idea, if you are in good health and have been a regular donor then I cannot see the problem. the need more donors not less. Ask your doc or the transfusion service what the problem is and see if a note from the doc might help.
I tried giving blood several times and apparently I need it more than they do. weird eh?? [I take long term medication so that could be it]
2006-10-04 10:08:56 · answer #3 · answered by cross_sox 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As we get older, things wear out. The same goes for blood. It didn't become less useful overnight, but it's been gradually deteriorating for years. Just accept the fact that they don't want it any more and let the youngsters take over.
2006-10-04 09:24:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although in your case they might be mistaken, from the system's point of view there needs to be a definitive cut-off point so that a prime supply can be maintained.
Just think, there may be forty-year-olds out there still giving blood that isn't as good as yours!
2006-10-04 09:28:04 · answer #5 · answered by reaper8436247 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they is a sudden drop in supply or greater demand, they sometimes lift the upper age limit to 70.
2006-10-04 09:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they think it is a greater risk to your life?
2006-10-04 09:24:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they mis-understood you & thought you wanted a transfusion.Kidding.
2006-10-04 09:28:29 · answer #8 · answered by michael k 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cos u will need it
2006-10-04 09:31:34 · answer #9 · answered by wobber 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need it more at your age
2006-10-04 09:26:55 · answer #10 · answered by JANET F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋