The Benefits of Giving Blood

I gave blood recently.

My station here,WKMG, hosted a blood drive partnering with our local blood center called OneBlood. OneBlood provides blood to more than 200 hospital partners and their patients in 72 counties. Plus, here's something I didn't know. Giving blood is healthy for you. According to a study published by the American Medical Association, giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in test participants ages 43 to 61.

That's a direct quote and there's more.

Another study, this one done in Finland, was cited in the American Journal of Epidemiology. It found that men who donated blood at least once a year had an 88% lower risk of heart attacks and are 33% less likely to suffer ANY TYPE of cardiovascular event.

Good stuff.

When you donate, they check your blood pressure, temperature, iron count and they'll even screen your cholesterol. Plus, donors will find out their blood type and most people don't know theirs. It's information you should have.

On to...

February is Black History Month.

You might ask yourself how is donating blood related to this month?

Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disease that primarily effects African Americans.

Patients often receive blood transfusions to increase the number of normal red cells and help reduce pain and relieve anemia. This makes African Americans ideal donors to help sickle cell patients.

That's how.

Adding more donors from diverse backgrounds increases the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need.

Give blood. It's important.

When you donate blood, you help you, you help others.
And when it's over you get fruit juice and cookies.

And you can't beat that.


For more information on Oneblood go to oneblood.org




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