Giving Blood Is Good For The Heart

Recent studies have shown that giving blood can cut your risk of heart attack and certain cancers. In the U.S. it's more common for people to have too much iron, especially among men and post-menopausal women. Too much iron may contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries by damaging cells in artery walls, which can block blood to the heart. Studies also found that too much iron contributes to the damage in the cell that leads to cancer.

So get to your nearest blood center and give blood. Some suggestions for care after you give blood:

• Drink lots of fluids; more than you usually do. But stay away from alcohol.
  
• Eat a hearty meal.
  
• Don't smoke for at least a half hour after giving blood.
  
• If there's any bleeding from where the blood was drawn, raise your arm and apply pressure.
  
• If you feel faint or dizzy, sit down with your head between your knees or lie down with your head lower than the rest of your body.
  
• Avoid strenuous activity for the day. But you can resume normal activity after an hour.

Blood Facts:

• Every 10 seconds, someone in the United States receives a blood transfusion.
  
• For every 2.8 gallons of blood people have donated, they have supported the entire nation's blood needs for one minute.
  
• One out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood.
  
• About 95% of people living to the age of 72 will need a blood transfusion at some time in their life, yet only 3% of the population donates blood.
  
• Blood centers often run short of Types O and B blood. Shortages of all types of blood occur during the summer and winter holidays.
  
• You can donate blood every eight weeks.
  
• A single blood donation takes about 45 minutes.
  
• Eligible donors should weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old.
  
• You should be in relatively good health.