Blood donation side effects

Blood donation is a process where a healthy person donates blood which is then given to someone who needs it. This is considered to be a noble act because the blood a person donates can literally save someone's life. In almost every country in the world there are blood camps that teach people the importance of blood donation. In most cities, the bigger hospitals have their own processing centers and blood collection. Of course, blood is not instantly given after the donation, it is kept in refrigerated form until there is need for it.

Lots of people have the wrong idea about blood donation. People believe that it was a medium of transfusion of such diseases like hepatitis and AIDS. Because of this, lots of people were afraid to donate blood. However, people should know that it is perfectly safe to donate since there are lots of safety measures implemented. When people come to donate blood, they will have to fill some forms and pass short medical exam so that it can be decided that they are fit to donate blood. When the actual process is commenced, a disposable syringe is always used so there is no chance of contamination.

Even though they are pretty rare and mainly teenage donors experience them, there are some side effects. Most of them are minor but there are some more severe. However, less than 1% of people end up with these more severe side effects.

Local bruising

According to some researches, 1.2% of 5,000 donors experience any side effects when they donate blood and these side effects are considered to be minor in 1% of these 1.2% of people. In most cases it is the improper insertion of needle that causes some localized skin effects. Usually it is the hematoma otherwise known as bruising. The bruising will go away in a couple of days.

It is not uncommon for people to feel agitated and concerned when they come to donate, especially if it is their first time. In these cases people go through such effects like sweating, feeling cold, becoming pale, weak and nauseous. Most of the time these side effects go away after the donation but sometimes they make a person feel light-headed. However, this feelings last for a couple of minutes and are not dangerous.

Fainting injuries

According to researches, only four donors out of 5,000 experienced side effects which are considered to be severe. Vomiting, brief muscle spasms and temporary loss of consciousness are these side effects.

However, there were reports of donors injuring themselves after they have fainted and fallen but these cases are rare and happen to really young donors.