It only takes about an hour out of your busy schedule to save a life. Donating blood may not only benefit the person who receive the blood cells but may also improve the health of the donor.
While the most obvious health benefit of donating blood is the wonderful feeling derived from giving something vital to someone who needs it, the benefits of donating blood may extend far beyond this to having a positive impact on the donor's health.
Blood donation removes some of the excess iron which can cause free radical formation in the body. Excess iron is thought to promote free radical damage to the arteries, which can contribute to heart disease. Studies have shown that men who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of heart disease. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in males, this is, indeed, an important health benefit of donating blood.
How can you be sure you're not giving away too much iron? Before you're allowed to donate blood, your hemoglobin level, a rough measure of your iron levels, will be checked. If it's deemed too low, you won't be allowed to donate that day. Your hemoglobin level will be monitored closely every time you present for donation and you'll only be allowed to donate every eight weeks to prevent too much iron from being removed from your body. It's a free and easy way to keep track of your iron levels.
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