Wellness & Fitness

Donating blood will lower your cancer risk and stress levels

blood

Donating blood is one of the easiest and safest processes. PHOTO | FILE

Every now and then, hospitals plead for individuals with a certain blood type to donate blood to a patient in need of life saving transfusion. However, a majority of Kenyans think blood donation only benefits the recipients.

Dr Nancy Okinda, a pathologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, said donating blood reduces the your risk of developing cancer and stress.

“Possibly the most touted benefit is improved heart health through the reduction of oxidative stress. Thought to be the most dangerous threat to the cardiovascular system, an abundance of iron in the blood can result in damage to cells and tissues. Donating blood regularly results in reduced risk of heart attacks and stroke,’’ she said.

‘‘Consistent blood donation is associated with lowered risk for cancers of the liver, lungs, colon, stomach and throat,’’ Dr Okinda added. A Swedish study suggests that cancer risk levels dropped in correlation with how often participants donated blood.

Donating blood is one of the easiest and safest processes. With every donation an individual can save three lives.

To donate blood, you should be between 16 and 65 years of age and weigh above 50 kilogrammes.

You will then undergo quick health checks where your blood pressure, body temperature and haemoglobin will be taken and fill in a donor questionnaire that will ensure both you and the recipient’s safety.

Medical exams

This will inform you of any unknown medical illnesses which will in turn be followed by a blood draw from your arm.

“The blood is screened for HIV/Aids, Hepatitis and syphilis before being transfused to the recipient. Potential donors are told in strict confidentiality about their results and advised to seek treatment for any diseases detected in the scanned blood,” said Dr Okinda.

Each time you donate blood, you should check on your own health including blood pressure, haemoglobin, and other vital signs.

‘‘Those able to donate frequently are eligible after a 56 day break. This equates to six medical exams in a year free of charge,’’ said Dr Okinda.

Kenya is making slow progress in increasing its blood banks and adapting new technologies that save patients’ lives.

However, private health facilities such as the Aga Khan University Hospital have come to the relief of patients with bleeding disorders, leukaemia and cancer and have launched a new procedure of extracting platelets from the blood of donors.

The procedure, known as platelet apheresis, involves separating blood into various components that include; platelets, red blood cells and plasma with some components being retained (platelets) while the rest are transfused back to the donor.

“The apheresis machine spins the blood to separate it, collects the most needed components and safely returns the remaining blood through the same sterile needle used for collection,” said Dr Okinda. Most patients with bleeding disorders, leukaemia and cancer require an average of five to six units of platelets.

For one to qualify as an apheresis donor, one must be of good health, be between 16 and 65 years old and weigh at least 45 kilogrammes.

In addition, the donor should also avoid fatty foods and increase the fluid and calcium intake.

Platelet apheresis has several advantages for both donors and recipients. To begin with, only required components that are needed by the patient are extracted.

This mean that donors can help more patients as more platelet units can be extracted during the donation.

One donor is required in platelet apheresis compared to six donors that would be needed in a normal donation.

This also translates to reduced risk of infection to recipients.

The new technology also reduces time and labour, lowering costs.

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