The Medical Minute: A most precious gift

By John Messmer, M.D.
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Americans are a giving people. We donate money, food, time and more to charitable, community and religious organizations, and even to victims of foreign disasters. After 9/11, we had to be told to stop sending money because we gave so much, it could not be managed. Yet only one in five eligible Americans gives the gift that is so dear that someone needs it every few seconds -- the gift of blood.

January is National Blood Donor Volunteer month, and this year the need for new donors is critical. Donations are down compared to past years. No one knows why, but it may be due to an early flu season or because updated rules restrict donations from people who have lived in certain countries due to the possibility of having infections in their blood. Whatever the reason, the need is great.

You can be a blood donor if you are reasonably healthy, at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit. Very few medical problems exclude your donation and most common medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are acceptable for donating. You may give blood even if you are on medication, with a few exceptions that include Accutane for acne, Proscar or Avodart for prostate problems, Propecia for hair growth, Tegison for psoriasis or chemotherapy agents which can cause birth defects if given to a pregnant woman. If you have had a tattoo, you are asked to wait a year because of the small risk of hepatitis from tattoo needles.

You normally have between 10 and 12 pints of blood. When you donate a pint, it is split into its components to meet the needs of trauma victims, hemophiliacs, cancer patients, burn victims, surgical patients, premature infants and many others. One pint of blood is a gift that literally saves the lives of many people. You may think your blood is not needed if you have the most common blood types, O positive and A positive. The truth is that because more people have the common blood types, your blood is particularly important.

Blood donations are taken year round in hospital blood banks [the Penn State Hershey Medical Center blood donor center is at (717) 531-5063]. Local blood banks such as the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank [at (800) 771-0059] can provide information about donation sites, or you can visit http://www.cpbb.org on the Web. Blood drives sponsored by church groups and employers are often listed in the local paper.

It’s really easy to be a blood donor. First you complete a brief health questionnaire then have your blood pressure measured and a drop of blood is taken from your finger to check for anemia. Even if you had anemia in the past, you may be able to donate now. You should eat breakfast or lunch before donating and drink plenty of liquid.

Your blood is collected by a trained technician using new, sterile equipment. Sure, a needle is used to get the blood but most blood donors say it's hardly noticeable. It takes about 15 minutes to collect the blood while you lie comfortably on a reclining chair. During that time you will be offered snacks and beverages. Afterwards you should drink extra fluids and eat normally. Your body quickly replenishes the donated amount -- the fluid in a few hours and the cells in a few weeks.

You cannot catch any diseases from blood donation. It is a very safe activity for you and lifesaving for the recipients of your donated blood. Blood has a limited storage time so it must constantly be replenished. If you have not been a blood donor, now is the best time to begin. You may donate every eight weeks. The need is always great, but it is highest at this time of year.

More information may be found at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/blood-donor/bloddonr.htm

Are there medical topics or issues you would like to see featured in the Medical Minute? E-mail your suggestions to Dr. Messmer at jmessmer@psu.edu.