fullcortex.net

( 1998 )
-Is there any medical benefit to donating blood? I’ve been told that it does everything from helping lower blood pressure to lowering cholesterol and iron levels. Is there any truth to that, or is it just a story to get more blood donors?-
There is a direct medical benefit from periodic removal of a unit of blood from people who have a disease called hemochromatosis. This disorder is related to an abnormally high amount of iron in the body. Excessive iron can damage certain organs, especially the liver.Removal of blood is not an effective way to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Blood removed for therapeutic purposes isn’t used for transfusion purposes, so there would be no purpose in promoting “stories” in order to collect blood.
To be sure, there is a need to encourage people who are eligible donors to give blood. Blood transfusions save lives daily, whether used to replace blood lost due to serious injuries or bleeding disorders, or as a result of major surgery. In that sense, donating blood can indeed make you feel better by knowing that a significant contribution has been made. And someone else’s gift of blood could someday save your life.