Donating blood helps avoid serious diseases

Donating blood not only helps save lives but also provides health benefits for donors, such as helping reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists found that people between the ages of 43 and 61 will have less heart attacks and strokes when donating blood every six months. .

Another study for 2,682 people in Finland also found that blood donors were 88% less likely to have a heart attack than those who did not.

The above benefits are thought to be due to high levels of iron in the blood . Iron inherently affects the consistency and adhesion of blood structure, in which high iron content will make the blood thicker.

Donating blood not only helps save lives but also helps prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer in both donors.(Photo: Telegraph)

Elevated iron content also accelerates the oxidation of cholesterol. The phenomenon can negatively affect the stability of blood, increase friction and weaken, even break the artery walls. This process can ultimately contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Because blood donation helps remove some of the iron content in the blood, it helps to thin the blood so it can help prevent cardiovascular disease.

An article in the American National Cancer Journal also used iron levels in the blood with an increased risk of cancer. The authors believe that high iron levels in the blood increase harmful free radicals in the body. This hypothesis is similar to the results of a four-and-a-half-year study of 1,200 people, in which blood donors twice a year have a lower risk of cancer and death than others due to their content. lower iron in blood.

However, the health benefits are dependent on regular blood donation, not just once in a short time.

Another side effect of blood donation is to help burn a large amount of calories. After donating blood, the body will replace the entire blood volume within 48 hours and all red blood cells within 4-8 weeks.

Researchers at the University of California (USA) estimate that, for every 0.5 liters of donated blood, 650 calories will be consumed by the body to compensate for the lost amount.

Although some people consider this an attractive way to lose weight, health facilities still encourage people to donate blood for good purposes, such as saving others first, rather than themselves. .