Important Health Benefits You Can Get From Donating Blood

There is a reason why the World Health Organization describes blood donation as “the most precious gift anyone can give to another person." When donating whole blood, donors typically give one pint per donation session, which can save up to three lives, and individuals are typically eligible to donate every fifty-six days (eight weeks). Donors may also be able to donate platelets only, which can typically be done every seven days, up to twenty-four times a year. However, blood donation does not only benefit the individuals who receive the blood. Donors also experience a number of benefits!

Check out these important health benefits individuals can experience when they donate blood.

Free Blood Tests

Donating blood is one way to get a free blood test. During the donation process, individuals are screened to determine if they are healthy enough to give blood and if they have any blood pressure problems or infections. Their blood is also tested after donation to ensure it is safe to be given to another person. After giving blood, donors can ask to be notified if there are any irregularities in their blood, which can save them a visit to the doctor's office and, perhaps even a medical bill. A sixty-three-year-old grandmother in the United Kingdom was in the process of donating blood when the preliminary screening process detected irregularities. It turned out she had bowel cancer, which doctors detected at an early stage because of her blood screening test.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of donating blood now.