I was told that it's a good thing to donate blood every once in a while, but why?

Question

I donate blood every couple of months or so.

Answer 1

I just started donating this year. I don't know about the good physical effects (except for a quick 1 pound weight loss. LOL) but it has helped me mentally. By helping others I've gotten a better self image, I've become a giver, and not just a taker.

Answer 2

It's a good thing to donate blood because it helps people, but I think you're asking whether it helps the donor somehow, physically, to have some blood taken out once in a while.

It doesn't. In the time of Hippocrates in ancient Greece, it was believed that illness was caused because the four liquids in the body (yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood) got out of balance, and various techniques were used to try to restore that balance. That included blood letting. During one period, it was done by barbers instead of physicians, which gives you some idea of how advanced medicine was in those days!

We know a lot more about how the body works now. Your body has elaborate systems for regulating all of the components of blood, and turns it over regularly. Blood cells age and die and are metabolized and either recycled or excreted. The blood serum is continually being filtered by the kidneys. The endocrine and immune systems maintain the other components at the right levels. A healthy person doesn't need any external process to keep the blood healthy (except good food and exercise, of course).

By the way, you may have heard of leeches being used in medicine again. That has nothing to do with trying to get rid of blood as it was in ancient times. It's for restoring circulation to the tissue after a certain type of surgical complication.

Answer 3

Donating blood does not get rid of any excess mineral deposits. And you should tell the donor technicians if you have any disorders effecting your blood as it will not be acceptable (The blood will have to be rejected). Donating blood helps 3 people for each full unit donated. The blood is taken back to the blood center and separated into different blood products. These are: packed red blood cells, plasma (the little guys in the blood that make it clot), cryo (a very specialized blood product), etc. This is distributed to hospitals in the area to be given to patients as needed. It is very important to maintain good health, hydration, and don't lie about the last date of donation!

Answer 4

There is always a demand for donated blood. It can save so many lives and it is used 24/7.

Answer 5

they don't take 2 pints at one time. they in elementary words take one. :) I have donated over a gallon of blood for the duration of my lifetime. The needle doesn't damage as a lot as a shot does, or a minimum of it by no skill did to me. do not rigidity your self out. Remind your self why you're donating it. to save someone's' existence or to assist a ill toddler. that is mostly only one stick except you've small veins or they're knotty and roll. i ought to imagine in case you've very good veins so that is going to be truly painless except for the initial insertion of the needle. The needle gained't stay on your arm for an hour except you're donating platelets. it truly is a diverse procedure altogether.

Answer 6

Besides the humanitarian reasons, donating blood regularly benefits the body. One benefit is that the body becomes more efficient at replacing the lost blood. Therefore, if you ever were injured and had a blood loss, you would recover faster.

Answer 7

Well it's a very BASIC concept. you give blood once in awhile,so hospitals will always have stock on hand to save lives. This alone should give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. Yet there is more, in the event you should suffer a life or death situation needing crucial blood you'll be overwhelmed with gratitude and pride for your fellow nameless stranger, yet now intimately connected citizens who saved your life, and may set you to ponder if that few minutes of your time resulted in saving someone Else's life.

Answer 8

I've read that it's good to do, because it gets rid of any mineral buildups that can be happening in your blood.
Also, that when you do this, your body makes new blood to replace the blood you gave, and that's good to have new blood being made.
Women lose blood during menstruation so they don't have some of the problems men do for this reason.
At least that's the theory, but hey, they outlive us by 7 years average, so maybe that's why!

Answer 9

it is a good thing of donating blood.....if it isn't harming us why should we not donate blood.......the blood donated is replenished within 24 hours without any weakness....when it is saving someones life we should step forward in donating blood......

Answer 10

It keeps the Red Cross happy that they have blood in their supply -especially in summer vacation and Christmas time.