Why can't people give(whole) blood more often then every 56 days- is it solely because of iron levels? That's easy to get up(just taking supplements) so I'm wondering if there's another reason.
2007-10-01 15:46:45 · 3 answers · asked by HV 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Beats me, it's B.S. anyway. I had severe iron overload and went through phlebotomy (blood letting), they took a pint a week for 6 months. The iron had leveled off after 5 months, so the extra month was just for $hits & giggles as near as I can tell.
2007-10-01 15:56:33 · answer #1 · answered by Greg I 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Red blood cells have a life expectancy of almost exactly 120 days. So when you give a unit of blood it takes about half that time to rebuild the loss plus whatever regular losses you have. You can donate plasma (water plus protein plus salts) twice a week.
2007-10-01 23:11:08 · answer #2 · answered by Howard H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On average it takes that long for your body to replace the cells you have lost. It actually has little to do with your iron level.
2007-10-01 22:50:43 · answer #3 · answered by julvrug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋