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HomeArticlesCommunityMy Profile WH.translationData = {'es': {'msg':"\u00bfTe gustar\u00eda saber Como prepararse para donar sangre? \u00a1Lee acerca de eso en espa\u00f1ol!"},'pt': {'msg':"Gostaria de aprender Como Preparar se para Doar Sangue? Leia sobre o assunto em portugu\u00eas!"},'it': {'msg':"Ti piacerebbe sapere Come Prepararti per Donare il Sangue? Leggi come farlo, in italiano!"}};WH.mergeLang({'navlist_collapse': '- collapse','navlist_expand': '+ expand'});EditHome » Categories » Health » Conditions and Treatments » Blood and Organ DonationHow to Prepare to Donate BloodEdited by Gwyn, Lisa Brooks, Cem, Emma H and 42 othersPin ItArticle EditDiscussWe cannot live only for ourselves.A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. ~ Herman Melville
The availability of quality blood is a very important component of modern medicine. It cannot be created synthetically, so it must be collected from volunteer donors. Yet, many people are afraid to donate for reasons varying from worry about pain to worry about catching a disease. The reality is that donating blood is safe, as there are many precautions in place and there is no reason to fear a communicable disease. The most serious risks when donating blood are referred to as "adverse reactions" and these generally take two forms, namely fainting or bruising. If you follow these steps, you will reduce the potential for both types of adverse reactions. Edit Steps1Determine if you are eligible to donate blood. Each country's blood service will have different requirements in place, some based on specific blood disease concerns (see the "Sources and Citations" below to locate different country requirements). In general, you will be able to give blood if:
You are healthy, fit, and not suffering from a current illness. Avoid donating blood if you have a cold, a cold sore, a cough, a virus, or an upset stomach.You weigh at least 110 pounds or 50 kg.You are of the right age (in many jurisdictions, you will require parental permission for the ages 16-17 to give blood; check your local requirements).[1]2Avoid donating blood after dental work. If you have had a minor dental procedure, wait 24 hours before donating blood. If you've had major dental work, wait for a month.[2]
Prior to donating blood1Drink plenty of water or fruit juice the night and morning before you donate. The leading cause of faintness and dizziness is a drop in blood pressure.[3] Getting lots of water or fruit juice into your body helps keep your blood pressure up. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service advises that you drink well in the 24 hours leading to the donation time, especially when it's warm, recommending four good sized glasses of water or juice in the three hours prior to donation.[4]
If you are donating plasma or platelets, drink at least 6 to 8 glasses.[5]Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, as these will cause your body to expel water.2Eat three hours prior to the donation. It's not a good idea to come in with an empty stomach; eating will keep your blood sugar levels stable, helping you to feel better after you have donated blood.[6] Having food in your blood helps to ward off lightheadedness.
If you feel like eating breakfast first thing in the morning eat something light like (cereal, toast, etc.) or a light lunch, such as a sandwich and piece of fruit.If you think you might be nauseous during donation don't eat immediately before your appointment.Avoid fatty foods for twenty-four hours before you donate. Increased fat in your blood stream might make it impossible to get accurate readings on some of the mandatory screening tests conducted on samples of your blood after you donate. If they can't run all the tests, they have to discard your donation. You don't want all your effort wasted!Eat iron rich foods for two weeks before your appointment, for example, spinach, whole grains, eggs, and beef. Having good levels of vitamin C will help to increase iron absorption (consume citrus juice and citrus fruit, or take vitamin C pills with your doctor's advice).[7] Your iron level will be tested before you donate to protect you from donating blood--you really need to ensure that recipients receive a potent product.3Prepare all identification and blood donor cards you need to take the day before and put into something that you carry with you. That way you won't forget to take them if you're feeling nervous. Blood donor cards can help speed up the process as your personal donor number will let the blood bank or service find your details quickly.
Answer questions from the staff members or on forms and answer all interview questions honestly. Certain activities increase the chances of blood borne illnesses (i.e., those that can be transmitted through blood) and those who have recently engaged in those activities may be prevented from donating blood for a period of time. Some of the questions regarding sexual activity might be embarrassing, but the people working at blood centers are professionals. They have heard it all before.You might be deferred,[8] but no one will ever know why unless you tell them. If you need a less embarrassing excuse to tell your friends or coworkers, low iron is the most common cause for deferral. Low blood pressure, high blood pressure and high temperature are also good excuses that shouldn't cause embarrassment. Ask the registration personnel if you think you need exact numbers for your made-up excuse.During the blood donation1At this time you will be given a mini-physical in which your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure are taken.
2Expect nurse to check your hemoglobin levels. This will involve a small prick on your finger. It will need to be within the healthy range before you can give blood, to ensure that giving blood won't leave you feeling nauseous. anemic.[9]
3Ask for a blanket if your hands or feet start to feel cold. This is a sign that your blood pressure is dropping. A nice warm blanket might help you to relax.
4Take a deep breath before the needle goes in, or pinch yourself to create a distraction. Don't hold your breath; if you do, you might pass out. Be reassured - most people report little or no pain, with comments such as it feeling like a "pinch".[10] The real issue is discomfort, so the less you tense up, the better. Naturally, know your own limitations - if you're hyper-sensitive, be sure to explain this to staff taking the blood in advance.
5Relax. Nervousness can also cause your blood pressure to drop and can lead to dizziness. Talk to the person taking your blood if it helps you to feel better, and ask him or her to explain everything that is being done. Find ways to distract yourself--chew gum, sing a song, recite something, contemplate the outcome of a book you're reading or a TV series you follow, listen to your MP3 or CD player, think about the worthy end result of your donation, and even ask the person taking your blood if they know of any cases where donated blood made the difference between life and death.
After the blood donation1Expect to be asked to rest sitting down for 10 to 20 minutes after giving blood. This lets the staff keep an eye on you to make sure that you're in good shape before you leave.
2Have a snack after the donation. Drink some water or juice and eat a light snack with a high sugar content to get that blood sugar back up. Rest for a few minutes enjoying your snack before leaving the donation site. Let your body adjust a bit before rushing off to the rest of your day. Plan to spend fifteen minutes in the canteen.
3Avoid driving if you feel the least bit faint. Donating blood is not dangerous, but driving is, and you could be seriously injured if you faint while driving. If you are not well after your donation, call someone to come pick you up.
4Eat a meal high in protein after your donation: beef, chicken or legumes are excellent choices. You should also eat some vegetables and be sure to drink plenty of water. All these things will help your body make more blood for you soon.
5Refrain from drinking alcohol for at least 8 hours after giving blood.[11]
6Excuse yourself from heavy lifting for the rest of the day. This includes weightlifting at the gym, of course as well as working at any job that requires heavy lifting. If you have such a job, you should schedule your blood donations for Fridays. Heavy lifting will almost certainly cause the vein to reopen and bleed into your arm causing a large, painful bruise. If you give it 16-24 hours to heal properly, you shouldn't have any trouble.
Avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. Don't go running or dancing or bicycling until tomorrow. You've done enough for today. You helped save three lives!7If you feel unwell at any stage after giving blood, call the blood service or see your doctor.
8Sign up for another time. Getting into a regular habit of donating blood is a generous and potentially life-saving gift.
Categories: Featured Articles | Blood and Organ Donation
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Note that low fat doesn't necessarily mean low calorie; always read the ingredients list.[3]Healthy whole grains include barley, oats, spelt, wheat, kamut and brown rice.[4] See below for more about oats.Bread and cereals are healthy provided you steer clear of the high fat and high sugar varieties. Choose bread and cereals containing less than 450mg per 100mg of sodium.[5]Eat some carbohydrate at each meal but not too much. Always add protein and eat more non-starchy vegetables over starchy ones.3Ingest more fiber. Fiber cleanses your system and helps control your blood sugar levels. Most vegetables are high in fiber, especially those with leafy greens. Many fruits, nuts, and legumes are also rich in fiber, as are whole-wheat products.
Water-soluble fiber is very important for maintaining good health. It is found in such foods as beans, nuts, oat bran and seeds.[4]Flax-seeds are both a good source of fiber and for maintaining balanced blood sugar. Grind two tablespoons with 10 ounces of water and consume each morning to gain its benefits.[4]4Consume fish twice a week or more. Fish is high in protein, which does not affect blood sugar as much as carbohydrates do. Fish also has less fat and cholesterol than meat and poultry. Many types of fish, including salmon, mackerel, and herring, also have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which lower fats called triglycerides and promotes overall heart health. Avoid fish prone to high levels of mercury, however, like swordfish and king mackerel.
Other sources of healthy, lean protein include legumes, nuts, seeds, peas and turkey or chicken.[4] You might also consider protein drinks with less than 5g of sugar content.[4]5Eat more oatmeal. Unsweetened oatmeal digests slowly, which prevents your blood sugar from spiking up dramatically while providing your body with the slow-release energy it needs.[6]
6Look for non-starchy vegetables. Broccoli, spinach, and green beans are excellent examples.[6] These vegetables are low in carbohydrates, so they do not affect your blood sugar very much, but they are also high in fiber and have a cleansing effect.
7Satisfy your sweet tooth with a few strawberries. In spite of their sweetness, strawberries are actually rather low in carbohydrates and, as such, do not dramatically impact blood sugar levels.[6] They also contain high levels of water, helping you to feel fuller for a longer period of time. As a result, you may feel less tempted by a more harmful sweet later on.
8Drink more water. Soda and sugary juice drinks raise your blood sugar quickly. Substituting these drinks with water, tonic water and sparkling water can quickly reduce your sugar intake.[6]
Many commercially available waters are also flavored, which may make them more appetizing than plain water. However, beware added sugar. You can add strawberries, lemon or lime slices or a dash of orange juice to flavor sparkling water at home without adding sugar's empty calories.Keep some water in the refrigerator with lemon slices already added to it. Very refreshing on a hot day, this water will taste delicious. Keep it topped up and discard the slices and add new ones every two days. Vary the flavorings with other citrus fruits or strawberries, apples or berries.Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to ensure that you're adequately hydrated.[5]Be careful when consuming fruit juice and keep it to a minimum––fruit juice contains carbohydrate from its natural fructose (sugars).[5]9Sprinkle cinnamon onto your food. Some experts believe that cinnamon has a moderate effect at reducing blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes. The results are far from conclusive, but early studies do support the claim.[7]
Do not rely on cinnamon as a magic solution! It should be treated as an extra addition to all the other excellent suggestions above.Planning Things Out1Know how many calories you should consume per day.[8] Ingesting the correct number of calories may prevent you from taking in excess food that can lead to excessive sugar entering your blood.
Consume 1,200 to 1,600 per day if you are a small woman, a medium-sized woman who wants to lose weight, or a medium-sized woman who does not exercise much.Consume 1,600 to 2,000 calories per day if you are a large woman who wants to lose weight, a small man, a medium-sized man who does not exercise much or wants to lose weight, or a large man who wants to lose weight.Consume 2,000 to 2,400 calories per day if you are a medium to large man who exercises a lot, a large man at a healthy weight, or a medium to large woman who exercises a lot.2Make substitutions. Instead of completely altering the way you eat, substitute healthier choices in place of those that could raise your blood sugar.
Organic whole fat foods are considerably healthier than fat-free and low-fat alternatives.[citation needed] Foods in their original whole form are better options than processed.Organic whole milk is superior to low fat.[citation needed] Coconut milk is also an excellent option. Medium chain fatty acids in coconut milk are excellent for metabolic conditions such as diabetes.Vegetable oils are full of heart damaging polyunsaturated fats. Avoid vegetable oils. Saturated fats are a superior option. Americans are finally beginning to understand that dietary fat does not make someone fat, but they are essential for energy and tissue production.Avoid chemical sugar substitutes. They are not recognized by the body and cause cellular damage. Raw stevia is the best option for a non-calorie sweetener.3Count your carbohydrates. In particular, count the refined carbohydrates you're consuming, such as white flour baked products, sugary cereals and fried foods. Carbohydrates have a greater impact on your blood sugar levels than anything else because they break down into glucose, very quickly.
4Check the glycemic index. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates based on how much they raise blood sugar levels after consumption. Foods with a low GI rating are less likely to raise your blood sugar than those with a high rating.
Be aware that the glycemic index may not catch all sources of sugar beyond glucose. Other sugars, such as fructose and lactose, add to your blood sugar load.[1]Edit TipsLeave the skin on fruits and vegetables where possible, as most of the nutrients tend to be found just under the skin and peeling can remove this. Also, if steaming or boiling vegetables, try to reuse the water as soup or in a stew or sauce, to capture the vitamins that end up in the water. Eating salad vegetables raw will ensure that you get many unspoiled vitamins in your diet––just be sure to wash well first.Talk to your doctor before significantly altering your diet. Your doctor can work with you to determine the healthiest plan to suit all your dietary needs and can steer you away from choices that may negatively affect your health.The whole family can eat the same healthy foods; there is no need to single yourself out. Everyone benefits from the same healthy and nutritious meals eaten together.Walk a lot. Exercise helps your dietary measures by increasing your metabolic responses and keeping you fit. Walking is an ideal method of exercise for every person.[9]Edit WarningsDo not reduce your blood sugar levels down to nothing. An excessively low blood sugar level can be just as dire to your health as an excessively high level.Edit Sources and Citations? 1.0 1.1 Sarah Bearden, Nutrition in Essence, p. 69, (2006), ISBN 978-0-340-92730-4? http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00027? http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2012/Sep/beware-of-misleading-claims-of-many-low-fat-foods-93949286.html? 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Mark Stengler, MD, Dodge Diabetes, Alive.com, November 2006? 5.0 5.1 5.2 Andrea Bidois, Diabetes Update, pp. 164-168? 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://diabetes.webmd.com/features/diabetic-diet-6-foods-control-blood-sugar? http://diabetes.webmd.com/features/diabetic-diet-6-foods-control-blood-sugar?page=2? http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/eating_ez/? http://www.diabetes.co.uk/how-to/bring-down-high-blood-sugar-levels.htmlArticle Info Featured Article\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Beta Game Testers Needed\wikihow\-crop-44-33-44px-Healthylazy.png)
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