Blood donation can help save the lives of critically ill patients, yet there are still many misconceptions and myths about it that deter people from donating blood. Today, a transfusion specialist has compiled a list of common misconceptions and questions about blood donation, hoping that more people will correctly understand the facts, dispel doubts, and actively participate in voluntary blood donation. Voluntary blood donation benefits everyone in a harmonious society.
Myth: Blood Donation Causes Blood Pressure Instability
Blood donation does not cause blood pressure instability. Various factors such as irregular lifestyle, unhealthy diet, excessive smoking and drinking, and diseases can lead to unstable blood pressure.
According to the “Health Check Requirements for Blood Donors,” hypertension is clearly listed as a disqualifying condition for blood donation. Blood donors’ blood pressure must be within the normal range: systolic pressure of 12.0kPa (90mmHg) ≤ systolic pressure < 18.7kPa (140mmHg); diastolic pressure of 8.0kPa (60 mmHg) ≤ diastolic pressure < 12.0kPa (90mmHg); pulse pressure difference: ≥30mmHg/4.0 kPa. Blood pressure is measured for each donor before every donation.
If some donors experience unstable blood pressure after donating blood, it is mostly due to anxiety about the process. Emotional fluctuations can cause blood pressure to become unstable. If blood pressure instability occurs, it is important to rest and maintain a stable mood. Blood pressure will quickly return to normal and will not cause pathological hypertension or hypotension. Long-term hypertensive patients are advised not to donate blood, as the donation might affect both the donor and the recipient.
Myth: Blood Donation Causes Weight Gain
Blood donation has nothing to do with weight gain. Normal blood donation ranges from 200-400 milliliters. The liver and spleen will mobilize stored blood, quickly replenishing the blood volume, so the impact on blood volume is minimal. Blood donation will prompt the body to produce new red and white blood cells but will not generate fat, proving there is no connection between blood donation and obesity.
Many factors affect obesity, such as genetics, hormones, and metabolic balance. Bodyweight changes depend on the difference between caloric intake and caloric expenditure. A common statistic is that when caloric intake exceeds expenditure by 3500 calories, one gains 1 pound (about 453 grams). Therefore, blood donation does not cause weight gain.
Some individuals gain weight after donating blood because they worry about their health and supplement nutrition excessively, leading to excessive caloric intake in a short period. Combined with reduced activity and lack of exercise, these excess calories are stored as fat, leading to obesity. This is the true reason behind weight gain after blood donation.
After donating blood, normal eating with a balanced diet is sufficient to meet the needs of hematopoiesis. There is no need for additional nutritional supplements, which could otherwise lead to weight gain and increased blood sugar and lipid levels, negatively impacting health.
Myth: Blood Donation Lowers Immunity
Blood donation does not lower immunity. Immunity is the body’s defense mechanism, allowing it to identify and eliminate foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria, etc.), handle aging, damaged, dead, or mutated cells, and recognize and eliminate abnormal cells and virus-infected cells. It is a physiological reaction for identifying and eliminating “foreign” elements.
Cells in the body naturally die in large numbers daily and are expelled through metabolism without reducing immunity. Proper blood donation reduces the number of blood cells, stimulating hematopoiesis, effectively improving the blood environment and promoting health.
Several factors contribute to reduced immunity: age, environment, family history, psychology, and nutrition. Blood donation only involves extracting peripheral blood, and the body will release stored blood to maintain constant blood volume, so immunity is not compromised.
We can improve immunity through a balanced diet, adequate sleep, moderate exercise, and emotional control. After donating blood, rest is crucial, avoiding excessive fatigue and staying up late to ensure proper recovery.
Myth: Post-COVID Infection, Blood Donation is Prohibited
COVID-19 is a respiratory virus and does not spread through blood transfusions.
To date, there have been no reports globally of COVID-19 transmission through blood transfusions. Blood banks strictly enforce blood collection and supply management systems, ensuring donors are fully recovered and observed for a period before donating. Thus, blood donated by individuals who previously had COVID-19 is safe.
Asymptomatic, mild, and ordinary COVID-19 cases can donate blood one week after symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat have completely disappeared, and seven days after the last positive nucleic acid or antigen test.
Severe or critical cases need to wait six months post-recovery before donating blood.
These standards align with international requirements for blood donation delay post-COVID infection and current respiratory and lung infection donation delay standards, posing no health risk to donors.
Situations Where Blood Donation is Temporarily Prohibited:
- Oral care (including teeth cleaning) within three days.
- Tooth extraction or minor surgery within half a month.
- Women during menstruation or three days before and after.
- Pregnancy or within six months post-miscarriage.
- Within a year after childbirth or during breastfeeding.
- Upper respiratory infections within one week, flu recovery within one week.
- Pneumonia recovery within three months.
- Acute gastroenteritis recovery within one week, norovirus recovery within one week.
- Acute urinary tract infection within one month, acute pyelonephritis recovery within three months, active urolithiasis.
- Active or progressive ophthalmic disease within one week, eye surgery recovery within three months.
- Wound healing within one week, localized skin inflammation recovery within one week, widespread skin inflammation recovery within two weeks.
- Tattooing within one year.
- Benign tumors: post-surgery for gynecological or surface benign tumors within one year.
