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- You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. Walt Disney
Donate Blood
Save someone’s life
Blood donation is a lifesaver. Because there is no artificial substitute for human blood, someone needs donated human blood every 2 seconds in the United States. And even one donation can help save the lives of up to three people. More excellent facts about the importance of blood donation are available at the American Red Cross.
Remove excess iron
Iron is essential for a body’s healthy function. Iron transports oxygen throughout our bodies, and is integral to many other cell functions. While excess iron in the blood – also called hemochromatosis – is uncommon, too much iron can harm the body when excess iron is deposited in the liver, heart and pancreas, where it can complicate cirrhosis, heart disease, and diabetes. Excess iron has also been linked to high blood pressure. Typically, these issues are seen more in men who don’t donate blood, as opposed to women who menstruate, and thus lose blood every month.
Get a health screening
Do you know your resting heartbeat, blood pressure, cholesterol and hemoglobin levels at this very moment? Well, when you visit, your local donation center, you will. Before every blood donation, a phlebotomist will check these important health statistics. As someone who donates every two months, I can say firsthand that getting these checked every two months is a great way to track your health and see how diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and other factors can be translated into concrete numbers!
And if that’s not enough…