Donating blood is regarded as a noble act because it can help save millions of lives and manage certain medical conditions. However, while the process of donating blood is relatively simple, there are some people who should not donate blood. These people may be on certain medications, have diseases or conditions that prevent them from donating blood. That’s why, on World Blood Donor Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about blood donation, let us get to know about those who can’t donate blood.
Health Shots got in touch with Dr Akash Banwari, Principal Consultant – Pathology, Max Hospital Gurugram, about those who cannot donate blood.
How often a person can donate blood is determined by the type of blood donation. When it comes to whole blood donations, you should wait at least 56 days, or three months, before donating again. Before donating platelets, you must wait at least 7 days after donating blood. For double cell donation, you must wait 112 days before donating again, and you may donate up to three times per year.
People with certain medical conditions cannot donate blood either for a set period or permanently. If you are suffering from tuberculosis, HIV or AIDS, Ebola, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD, a degenerative brain disorder that leads to dementia and death), you cannot donate blood. However, people with chlamydia, warts, and genital herpes are able to donate blood if they are feeling well at the time.
Every blood donation depends on your overall health. You can donate blood if you have had dental surgery and do not have an infection. However, if you have had bypass surgery or other heart problems, you may need to wait up to 6 months before donating blood. Even after 6 months, you should check with your doctor to see if you can donate blood now.
If a person is taking certain medications, they should wait before making any kind of blood donation. According to the American Red Cross, some medications that can affect blood donation include aspirin, antibiotics, bovine insulin, blood thinner, dutasteride, thalidomide, isotretinoin, hepatitis B immune globulin, acitretin, and etretinate. People with these medicines should wait before giving blood if they’ve recently had these medicines.
When donating, it is critical that you are in good health. You should avoid it even if you are sick. According to Dr. Banwari, you cannot donate blood if you have a fever, cold, or cough (bringing up phlegm). You should wait until you have fully recovered from your antibiotic treatment for a sinus, throat, or lung infection. This is due to the fact that some infections are transmitted through the blood.
You may only give blood if you are taking doctor-prescribed medications. So, people who have used needles to take drugs, steroids, or other substances not prescribed by a doctor may be unable to donate blood. And in that case, you may have to wait up to 5 years to donate blood.