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One blood donation save upto three lives. Blood is separated into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma, which can be used individually by many patients as per the requirement. 

But there are many who scared of donating blood due to the misunderstandings associated to the blood donation, which needs to clear out for more blood donation. 

Blood can be stored only for a limited time, so encouraging the routine donation of blood is crucial

What are the myths? Read here.

Blood Donation can make you sick? 

Those who are healthy and donating blood, cannot get less healthy after donation. Although doctors advice those donors to take rest for a day and drink fluids after donating as it is possible, a person feel tired. Within an  48 hours of donating, an individual’s blood volume returns to normal and within 4–8 weeks, the body will replace all of the lost red blood cells.

 “Blood donation is extremely safe”. 

• Old age people cannot give blood

The age of blood donation is 17–66 years but can donate up to 70 years of age. Those people who are older than 70 and has given blood in the past 2 years is also still eligible to donate.

• People on medication cannot donate

This is partial true. People who are on certain medications like anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications should not donate blood. However those taking general medicines can donate but should talk to doctor regarding their medicines before donating blood. 

• Donation is a painful process

Again, this is a partial myth. Needle gives only mild and short duration pain and ones it settles at its position, the donor remain comfortable. Some people experience bruising, which is usually harmless and disappears in a few days.

• Vegetarians and vegans can never donate blood

Those who are vegetarian do not ingest adequate iron in their diet and may be borderline anemic. In this case doctor screen donor and then permit for blood donation. It is not always that vegetarians are anemic and cannot donate blood.

• People with High blood pressure and High cholesterol cannot Donate

This is not always true in case of people having high blood pressure.  People having systolic blood pressure lower than 180 mm of mercury and diastolic blood pressure lower than 100 mm Hg can donate blood.  

People with high blood cholesterol levels those taking cholesterol-lowering drugs can donate blood.

• People with tattoos or piercing cannot donate

This is also a myth. If you are tattooed or pierced with single use instrument, which is a state regulated, you are eligible for donation. But if it is not, you have to wait for one year.