![]() Therefore, the more RBCs you have, the more oxygen you can deliver, thus enhancing your ability to do work. Red blood cells support metabolism by delivering oxygen (O 2) to working tissues, and the integrity of your O 2 delivery system predicts your overall work capacity, or VO 2max (5). Here’s how each part of the blood plays a role in your body, and in saving someone’s life. Regardless of donation type, every part of your blood can be (and is, according to the Red Cross) used to help someone in need (9). During a whole blood donation, blood is taken from the arm and then separated later into its usable parts, which can benefit up to three people (9).Ī partial donation is performed nearly the same way except that the donated parts, platelets for example, are machine-separated from the blood, then the remaining parts are returned back to the donors arm (9). When giving blood, most donors opt for the more common donation type called “whole blood” donation or some choose a partial donation in which only specific aspects are extracted: plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), or platelets (9-11). ![]() Consider donating during the off-season when training is lighter and performance isn’t an imminent concern (15). If you’re an athlete ( like a basketball player) that wants to donate blood, it’s completely feasible to do so, but probably best delayed until after your critical training periods. Heed the Red Cross’s advice to give yourself 24 hours rest afterward to allow your plasma levels to restore, and hydrate and fuel well before and after your donation (1). ![]() While a necessary and benevolent act, personal trainers, competitive athletes, strength and conditioning specialists, and fitness enthusiasts should be aware that donating blood is not without physical consequences, including a temporary reduction in endurance performance (4,5,6,7) and in some cases, iron-deficiency (8). Hospitals also need a continuous supply of fresh blood for surgical patients, laboring mothers, and trauma cases (1,3). In the U.S., more than 100 million people are eligible to donate, although only about 9 million do so every year (1).īlood donations help people cope with diseases like sickle cell (affecting more than 90,000 people in the U.S.), and cancer (affecting 14 million (2)), which require frequent blood transfusions. Do you ever give blood? According to the Red Cross, every two seconds there’s an American in need of it, requiring roughly 41,000 donations per day.
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