PG Resident doctor,Deptt. of Psychiatry, Grant medical collage Mumbai
Dr. Sagar Mundada has surveyed over 200 patients. During his OPD in the first week of june and asked questions about bood donations. What he finds that has shocked him. People are afraid of donating blood. They have lots of misunderstandings and myths about blood donation.
During his interview , he said that his only aim was to aware his patients about blood donations . He also said that from now he will make holdings and cling them in front of his cabin and outside his cabin so that most of people get to know about blood donation and they can aware others . Its not kind of formality or any showoff , it can save some one’s life. So he has planed that on the day of blood donor day (today) he will start camps to aware people .
Myth: Donating blood makes me feel low.
120 said yes out of 200
Fact: False. However, many people feel that donating blood makes them feel weak. Again, this isn’t true. The thread of truth here arises from the fact that it takes a day or two to replenish the fluid volume in the body and three months for the regeneration of red cells to donate more blood.
Myth: One is advised to take complete rest for a day after donating blood.
69 said yes.
Fact: False. One can easily resume his or her normal day-to-day routine after donating blood, but should take care of the following:
Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water including juices within 24 hours following blood donation.
Avoid sun exposure.
Avoid driving for the next 2-3 hours.
Avoid smoking for next 4 hours.
Avoid alcohol for next 24 hours.
Myth: Blood donation is a painful procedure.
86 said yes
Fact: False. Donating blood is not painful at all. One only feels a slight pinching sensation when the needle pricks the arms.
Myth: I should not donate blood frequently; it will make my body weak.
56 said yes
Fact: False. A healthy person can donate blood four times a year with a minimum a 3 months’ gap between each blood donation.
Myth: donating blood will make me feel stressed with episodes of severe headache and vomiting?
45 said yes
Fact: No, blood donation can not cause episodes of headache and vomiting if the blood pressure of the donor is within normal limits prior to donation
Myth: I should not donate blood frequently; it will lower my body’s immunity level.
72 said yes
Fact: No, your body’s immunity level is not affected by blood donation.
Myth: Donating blood frequently can fluctuate my blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
83 said yes
Fact: No, the blood pressure and blood sugar levels do not fluctuate provided the pre-donation values are within normal limits. A diabetic patient on insulin cannot donate blood.
Myth: Can donating blood at frequent intervals make my body iron deficient?
74 said yes
Fact: No, a healthy individual with good eating habits can donate blood four times a year with a gap of three months. It doesn’t make anybody iron deficient.
Myth: Blood donation takes a lot of time.
67 said yes
Fact: False. The whole procedure of blood donation from the time of registration takes approximately half an hour.
Myth: Can frequent visits to the hospital for donating blood cause some infection?
64 said yes
Fact: No, there is no fear of infection due to blood donation.
Myth: You cannot be a blood donor if you are on any kind of medication.
75 said they can still donate.
Fact: Yes, a person on aspirin, antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, steroids, hormones, anticoagulants, on inhalers cannot donate blood.
Myth: a pregnant lady donate blood?
42 said yes
Fact: No, pregnant women are not allowed to donate blood.
Myth: Can I donate blood, if I smoke regularly?
84 felt they can’t donate..
Fact: Yes, but abstain from smoking one hour before and after donation.
