Myths and Facts about Blood Donation
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| Ilustrasi. /Pixabay/Michellegordon2 |
cridn, Ponorogo - There are many myths circulating about blood donation. Here are the true facts and myths based on the explanations of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the book "Questions & Answers about Blood Donation" by Rachman and Aditya, and "Myths and Facts about Blood Donation" book published by Sanglah Central General Hospital.
1. Pregnant and breastfeeding women cannot donate blood.
This statement is a fact. Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding are not allowed to donate blood because their nutritional needs are increased during these conditions. Some nutrients, especially iron, are abundant in red blood cells. Blood donation can potentially add to the burden of increased nutritional needs, so if not balanced with strong intake, pregnant and breastfeeding women can suffer from anemia.
2. People with high or low blood pressure should not donate blood.
This statement is a fact. People with blood pressure higher or lower than normal should not donate blood because it can disrupt perfusion or oxygen absorption in body tissues, especially the brain. The normal blood pressure allowed for blood donation is systolic 100-180 mmHg and diastolic 60-100 mmHg.
3. People taking medication should not donate blood.
This statement is a fact. People taking any medication, especially aspirin and antibiotics, are not allowed to donate blood. Aspirin can interfere with clotting factors in the blood. Antibiotics and other drugs are also not allowed because when we take medication, it means our body condition is not healthy, including the quality of the blood circulating in the body. People are only allowed to donate blood after at least three days of stopping medication. This does not apply to those who only consume vitamins.
4. Vegetarians cannot donate blood because of lack of iron.
This statement is a myth. During the donor selection process, various examinations are conducted, including checking the hemoglobin levels in the blood. Hemoglobin levels can be used as an indicator of iron status in the body. If the hemoglobin level is more than 12.5 g/dL and all other requirements are met, people can donate blood regardless of their vegetarian status.
5. Blood donation is done once a year.
This statement is a myth. The minimum interval for blood donation is 12 weeks or three months since the previous donation, and the maximum is five times a year.
6. Weighing less than 45 kilograms is not allowed for blood donation.
This statement is a fact. The minimum weight for blood donation is 45 kilograms. However, weight will also be adjusted to height. The maximum tolerance for the amount of blood that can be taken is a maximum of 10.5 cc per kilogram of body weight.
7. Women who are menstruating should not donate blood.
This statement is a fact. Like pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who are menstruating are not allowed to donate blood. During menstruation, the body is "losing blood," so if blood donation is done, it could potentially disrupt their health because the amount of blood lost during menstruation is about 60-80 cc per day. Therefore, women are advised to donate blood at least seven days after finishing their period.
8. After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, blood donation is not allowed.
This statement is a fact and not only after COVID-19 vaccination. After receiving any vaccine, such as hepatitis B, influenza, and tetanus vaccines, individuals are not allowed to donate blood. They are only permitted to donate blood after a certain number of days have passed since receiving the vaccine. The waiting time depends on the type of vaccine received.
9. Blood donation can help with a weight loss program.
This statement is a myth. Research conducted by the University of California, San Diego, shows that individuals who regularly donate blood will lose weight based on the volume of blood donated because approximately 650 calories are burned in the body. However, blood donation should not be considered a weight loss program as it can only be done a maximum of once every two months.
10. Children are not allowed to donate blood.
This statement is a fact. The recommended age for blood donation is 17-65 years old. The age of 17 is chosen for legal reasons in Indonesia, as it is considered the age of adulthood. However, medically, individuals are allowed to donate blood as long as they weigh at least 45 kilograms. Typically, a weight of 45 kilograms is achieved around the age of 13 with a height between 156-158 centimeters. In urgent situations where only a donor who is under 17 years old is available, their blood can be taken with written permission from their parents, as long as other medical requirements are met.
As for the maximum age for blood donation, there are two categories. For first-time or infrequent donors, the maximum age is 60 years old because their organs are not accustomed to adapting and producing new blood cells. Regular donors are allowed to donate blood until the age of 65 because their body organs have adapted to quickly regenerate new blood cells after donation. (min)
