Blood donation is a process that is carried out when a person voluntarily offers for blood to be extracted from his body. There are countless myths about blood donation that need to be squashed and awareness is the only way of doing it.

While blood donation brings multiple health benefits to both the donor and recipient, some facts are known to only a few. These facts will not only open doors to endless possibilities, but will make people feel confident about it.

Facts

Here are some lesser-known facts about blood donation- every person should know-

 


	
	Approximately 112.5 million units of blood are collected from blood donation globally.
	
	
	Around 30 million units are transfused annually.
	
	
	Any person in sound health, at least 18 years old, and weighing at least 45 kilograms can donate blood every 56 days.
	
	
	Your one unit of donated blood can save up to 3 lives.
	
	
	A, b, ab, and o are the primary blood groups. While ab is a universal recipient, o negative is a universal donor.
	
	
	The blood donation process normally takes less than 10-12 minutes.
	
	
	Donating blood does not make you physically weak or decrease your strength.
	
	
	Only 1% of india's population donates blood each year, leading to an annual deficit of two million units.
	
	
	All donated blood units are tested for diseases like hepatitis b, hepatitis c, hiv, and syphilis before transfusion.
	
	
	Red cells, plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelets are the various types of transfusable elements derived from the blood. The procedure takes place using a method called apheresis.
	
	
	Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs.
	
	
	Red blood cells survive for about four months in the system of circulation.
	
	
	Platelets encourage blood clotting and provide leukemia patients and other cancer patients with better treatment.
	
	
	Plasma is a pale yellow combination of proteins, salts, and water.
	
	
	Plasma is 55 percent of the volume of blood and 90 percent water.
	
	
	White cells are the chief defense of the body against infections.
	
	
	There is no alternative for blood donation as blood cannot be manufactured.
	
	
	You cannot contract aids or other infectious diseases due to blood donation.
	


Lesser Known Facts About Blood Donation

World hepatitis day is observed on july 28th every year to raise awareness about hepatitis disease among people. It is organized on the occasion of the birthday of Dr. Baruch blumberg who found the hepatitis b virus in the year 1967 and also developed a vaccine for it. Moreover, this day educates everyone about hepatitis infections, the efforts to fight viral hepatitis, and methods people can use for its prevention.

What is viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis or hepatitis disease is a condition of inflammation in the liver that leads to severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. With deaths happening every 30 secs from a hepatitis-related infection, it is important to treat viral hepatitis at the earliest. Hepatitis is of different types depending on the infection. 

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Types

Viral hepatitis impacts millions worldwide, resulting in both acute and chronic diseases. There are five major classifications of viral hepatitis-

 


	
	Hepatitis a- it is a liver infection that can be prevented by a vaccine. It is a result of the infection as a result of the hepatitis a virus.
	
	
	Hepatitis b- it is an infection that happens due to the hepatitis b virus. It is spread through the blood or other bodily fluids of a person.
	
	
	Hepatitis c- it is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis c virus. It transmits through the blood of a person who is infected.
	
	
	Hepatitis d- delta hepatitis is another name for this virus and the hepatitis d virus is responsible for this. It happens to only those who are already hepatitis b infected. ;
	
	
	Hepatitis e- it is a liver infection resulting from a hepatitis e infection. It is usually found in a person s stool.
	


 

Symptoms

Hepatitis is a condition where you don t show symptoms till it is chronic and starts affecting your liver health. However, people in the initial stages of hepatitis infection might start reflecting symptoms. Some common symptoms of viral hepatitis are:

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	Flu-like signs
	
	
	Darker urine color
	
	
	Fatigue
	
	
	Abdominal cramps and pain
	
	
	Appetite loss
	
	
	Weight loss
	
	
	Yellow skin
	
	
	Pale eyes
	


 

People at risk

The risk of catching a hepatitis infection is high in individuals working around these environments-

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	Direct contact with hepatitis a infected person
	
	
	Male in sexual relation with another male
	
	
	Drugs abuser
	
	
	Ones with clotting factor disorder
	
	
	Who work with primates
	


 

World Hepatitis Day: Know All About The Disease

A brain tumour is a life-threatening situation. Most of the symptoms of the brain tumour are alike, but not all tumours are malignant. The most common type of brain tumour is meningioma. You may even don t need surgery in this case as they are really not dangerous or life-threatening.

 

Here are some of the facts you should know about meningioma:

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Meningioma can develop in numerous locations

 

Cells in the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord, give rise to these tumours. In fact, they are not brain tumours at all, because they are not caused by the altered brain cells. ;

However, they continue to grow inside your sull, indicating that you should now take immediate steps. Meningioma can produce brain tumour symptoms if it grows or creates swelling that presses against the brain or other tissues in the skull.

 

Meningioma symptoms vary depending on the size and location of the tumour

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Meningioma can cause vision-related issues, headaches or seizures which are all common signs of a brain tumour. A headache, even a strong one, is seldom an indication of meningioma or any other type of brain tumour on its own. 

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Other tumour sites can influence your sense of smell, vision, hearing and even the pituitary gland s function.

 

Meningioma diagnosis usually happens when the doctor is looking for some else

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The discovery of a tumour on a ct scan or mri while investigating the patient for another cause, such as a head injury or another neurological condition, is called an accidental diagnosis. When a doctor identifies a meningioma, you will undergo additional testing to determine how the tumour will behave. A neurosurgeon will decide whether to remove the tumour or just monitor it to see whether it grows based on these findings. 

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Majority of meningioma does not spread

 

Being diagnosed with meningioma, especially a large one, might be shocking, but these tumours are usually non-dangerous. Tumour cells are unlikely to spread to other sections of the body as a result of this. ;

Meningiomas, on the other hand, can grow silently for years without creating any difficulties and they can grow to be enormous.

 

Things You Should Know About Most Common Brain Tumours

Headaches are extremely common   we all are familiar with mild or persistent throbbing ;pain. A number of conditions can result in headaches. Some of these include  


	
	Fatigue
	
	
	Lack of sleep
	
	
	Stress/tension
	
	
	An underlying condition, like migraine ;or sinusitis
	


Recent studies have revealed a lesser-known cause for headaches   ;hypertension, or what is commonly referred to as high blood pressure.

The connection between hypertension and headaches

Hypertension occurs when the force of the blood circulation in the arteries is elevated   this particular condition can lead to steady pain throughout the head, particularly at the back of the head or in forehead.

Hypertension-induced headaches usually affect both sides of the head, particularly the temple regions. However, a person may not even realize that the headaches he/she is experiencing are induced by high blood pressure.

Since hypertension is an asymptotic condition, it is often referred to as  the silent killer . When blood pressure rises above 180/110, the condition is known as  hypertensive emergency .

Different types of hypertension leading to headaches

There are three types of hypertension conditions that are followed by mild to severe headaches:


	
	Malignant hypertension- this refers to a sudden, rapid increase in blood pressure that calls for medical attention. This is more common among young adults and women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
	
	
	Idiopathic ;intracranial hypertension- it is characterized by elevated blood pressure around the brain. Symptoms include vision problems, nausea, ;shoulder pain, thumping noise in the ears, and severe headaches.
	
	
	Hypertensive encephalopathy- this is an extreme condition of high blood pressure, which leads to swelling in the brain. A person with this condition experiences severe headache that becomes worse.
	


Uncontrolled hypertension can be dangerous   headaches induced by such a condition could also become frequent or worsen over time. However, with proper medications and certain lifestyle changes, high blood pressure can be kept under the normal measure. Once your blood pressure normalizes, the headaches will disappear in no time.

How Are Hypertension And Headaches Related?

The world celebrates world blood donor day on the 14th of june to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary and unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gift of blood. 

Importance of blood donation

The importance of donating blood is not only to save the lives of thousands of people who are deprived of life but also to save the lives of many more who are affected by the various diseases. ;

 

It has also been seen that when people; e have donated their blood, they have gained many health benefits as it helps in weight loss, helps maintain healthy liver and iron levels, it helps reduce the risk of heart attack and cancer. ;

 

A blood donation can save a life of- ;


	
	Victims of natural disasters, including earthquakes
	
	
	Patients with hemophilia, sickle cell disease, or cancer
	
	
	People who suffer traumatic injuries from being in a car accident
	
	
	Surgery patients
	
	
	Shooting or stabbing victims
	
	
	Women who suffer complications during childbirth
	


 

Blood types that are needed most

It s good to donate if you re healthy. However, there s always a need for specific blood and plasma which are universal and can be used when a patient blood type is unknown. For newborn infants or if a patient's particular blood type is unavailable.

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	Type o negative blood is always needed because it can be used in patients regardless of their blood type.
	
	
	Type ab positive plasma can also be transfused to patients with other blood types. 
	


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Donations are constantly needed

Because of their short shelf life of 5 days after being collected, platelet donations are constantly by the blood blank. Red blood cells also have a short shelf life and needed to be used within 42 days after the collection. Cryoprecipitate and plasma can be frozen and stored for up to a year after donation.


 

Some misconceptions about blood donations


	
	The donor will not experience any kind of pain while donating. ;
	
	
	There will be no scarcity of blood in the body after donating the blood as even after the donation the body will have a surplus quantity of blood. 
	
	
	The common misconception everyone has is that they will faint after donating their blood. ;
	
	
	You will be able to resume your everyday activity immediately after donating the blood. 
	
	
	You will not get infected with aids if you donate your blood. ;
	


 

Donating blood is a great way to give back to your community and potentially save a life by only giving up an hour of your time.

World Blood Donor Day: How Can We Save Life By Donating Blood?

Blood is one of the most crucial elements of human existence. It works as a commute for oxygen and various nutrients in reaching the cells. These functions make blood a vital source for the body to operate. That said, india needs 38, 000 blood donations every day, which adds up to 5 crore units required in a year. However, only 2.5 crore units are available against the huge unfulfilled numbers. Hence, it is essential to recognize the importance of blood donation.

 

Why is blood donation important?

While blood donations are essential to help people with surgeries, they are equally vital during cancer treatments, chronic diseases, and gruesome injuries. Moreover, they also benefit the donors in a significant way.

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Types of blood donations

Blood donations are of several types through which a single donor has the potential to help nearly three people.

 

Whole blood donation

It is the most common process of donating blood. One pint of blood collected supports numerous patients in the process. It is, then, divided into different components that aid the donation.

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Plasma donation

The process of plasma collection is carried out through a method called apheresis. It divides plasma from other blood components. Its blood clotting abilities help trauma patients and people undergoing cancer treatment.

 

Platelet donation

The collection of platelets is also done using apheresis. Once identified in the donor s blood, the rbcs and the donor gets other fluids back. Cancer patients are the chief beneficiaries of platelets as they play a prominent role during cancer treatments.

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Double red cell donation

Red blood cells are also collected through the apheresis process. It helps donors to donate twice the dose of a whole blood donation. One can help a patient suffering from blood loss using this method.

 

Advantages of blood donation

Blood donations have several advantages that people should know. They help fight many severe health conditions in the human body. Some of them include-


	
	Loss of blood due to internal or external injuries caused by accidents
	
	
	Sickle cell disease or other abnormalities that affect the blood
	
	
	In the treatment of cancer
	
	
	Cardiovascular or orthopedic surgeries
	
	
	Blood disorders
	
	
	Transplant processes
	
	
	Treatments involving plasma
	


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Covid-19

According to food and drug administration (fda) reports, patients who have recovered from covid-19 can help others by donating blood plasma. They contain antibodies that fight the infection, helping their body fight the virus.

 

Benefits for the donor

Even the donors receive many health and social benefits because of blood donation. Where donated blood saves lives, experts suggest that donors can also benefit from the same. Some of these advantages include:

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	Boosting cardiovascular health
	
	
	Maintaining blood pressure
	
	
	Contributing to the community
	
	
	Reducing the iron levels
	
	
	Improving overall health
	



 

Why Blood Donation Is Important?

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