After you donate It's important that you rest for around 5 minutes in the donor chair. When you're ready, you can head over to the refreshments area to relax for 15-20 minutes. Find your favourite snack, have a cool drink, maybe make a cup of tea, and enjoy. Make sure you grab a juice or water on your way out.
After giving blood, it is best to rest for at least the rest of the day. Working out the same day after giving blood can be harmful and may lead to fainting, among other effects.
Don't do any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for the rest of the day. If the needle site starts to bleed, apply pressure and raise your arm straight up for 5-10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
Feeling unwell after giving blood? If you feel faint (light headed or dizzy, hot, sweating, trembling, shaky or nauseous) lie down immediately, rest until you feel better and drink plenty of fluid. Any bruising is usually harmless and will disappear over time. Read more advice about bruising after donation.
Fatigue. Slight fatigue is normal after a blood donation, and some people experience this more than others. Anyone who feels tired after donating blood should rest until they feel better. Drinking plenty of water and restoring vitamin and mineral levels may help reduce fatigue.
Results: Donors reported fatigue as the most common symptom, with approximately 3% of donors experiencing severe problems at the first day after donation. Multiple symptoms improved significantly up to day 3 after whole blood donation.
When you donate blood, your body replaces the blood volume within 48 hours of donation, and all of the red blood cells you lose during donation are completely replaced within four to eight weeks. This process of replenishment can help your body stay healthy and work more efficiently and productively.
However, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have found that you can lose up to 650 calories per pint of blood donated. That's not a bad deal for kicking back and doing a good deed.
The side effects of donating blood include nausea and dizziness and fainting in some cases. You may develop a raised bump or experience continued bleeding and bruising at the needle site too. Some people might experience pain and physical weakness after donating blood.
People may feel fatigued or experience some dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea after donating blood. This is because of the temporary lowering of blood pressure. If a person feels faint, they can sit down and put their head between the knees so that it is lower than the heart.
Exercise. Avoid doing any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting the day of your donation – both before and after you've donated. Keeping your body in a rested state is important to give it a chance to replenish the fluids lost during donation, which will help you avoid feeling dizzy or lightheaded and keep you well.
Giving blood can give your weight loss goals a boost—you can burn about 650 calories every time you donate blood. Another very important benefit of blood donation is the fact that it helps in the burning of fat and losing weight.
For those interested in weight loss, people who give blood are literally giving away calories, about 650 of them per pint. For every five times you donate, you could lose a pound (provided you change nothing else about your diet and exercise habits). Donating blood is relaxing!
A Happier, Longer Life. One blood donation can save up to three lives, according to Dr. DeSimone. People usually donate because it feels good to help others, and altruism and volunteering have been linked to positive health outcomes, including a lower risk for depression and greater longevity.
A healthier heart and vascular system
Regular blood donation is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attacks. “It definitely helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors,” says DeSimone.
After donating blood, make sure you take sufficient rest. Lie down for at least 10 minutes after donating blood. This will ensure that the blood flow gets normal in the body and the brain.
After you donate
Overheating or standing up for long periods lowers your blood pressure and increases your risk of feeling faint. So, for about 8 hours after you donate, avoid hot showers, strenuous exercises or walking for long periods.
How long will it take to replenish the pint of blood I donate? The plasma from your donation is replaced within about 24 hours. Red cells need about four to six weeks for complete replacement. That's why at least eight weeks are required between whole blood donations.
The heart will beat faster to compensate for less oxygen-carrying capacity per heart beat. However, the high end will be compromised. Amateur cyclists were tested before and after a blood donation.
The blood volume is typically replaced within 24 hours. Red blood cells take between 4-6 weeks to completely replace, which is why the FDA requires an 8 week wait between blood donations.
You must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection. If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure.
Your body will replace the blood volume (plasma) within 48 hours. It will take four to eight weeks for your body to completely replace the red blood cells you donated. The average adult has eight to 12 pints of blood. You will not notice any physical changes related to the pint you donated.