Blood donation stimulates heart activity, renews cells

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Blood donation stimulates heart activity, renews cells
Blood donation stimulates heart activity, renews cells
Anonim

Stefka Popova is a lawyer by profession and the chairman of the Bulgarian Voluntary Blood Donation Organization (BODC), in which all are volunteers. We talk to her about the problems in this special part of he althcare, without which modern medicine is impossible.

Mrs. Popova, how many Bulgarians per day really need a life-saving blood transfusion?

- According to data from the National Blood Center, nearly 600 people need blood or blood products every day. These are people with various chronic diseases, people who have suffered disasters or burns, patients who need operations, and many others. About 80% of hospital procedures are related to blood transfusion.

Is this need really covered by the existing system, is the number of blood donors sufficient?

- No, unfortunately it is not covered. For example, people with thalassemia who need blood transfusions every month often have to wait to get the transfusion they need. Cancer patients are also often forced to wait when they need a blood transfusion, although this complicates their condition.

Almost always the relatives of those in need of blood are forced to look for blood donors. Relatives donate if they have the opportunity, but this is rarely enough. The big problem is that every hospital requires the relatives of those in need of blood to find donors.

How many blood donors are there in Bulgaria?

- Under 170,000 are the blood donors for 2014. But this is a small percentage - under 24 per 1000 population, which puts us in one of the last places in Europe.

Are they all voluntary blood donors?

- Officially, by law, blood donation is voluntary. But in our country, over 75% of blood donors are either relatives of those in need, or people who have been paid illegally. These people besiege the blood centers and blackmail the relatives of those in need of blood. Less than 25% are the actual voluntary blood donors who donate freely, uncompressed by circumstances, to a complete stranger.

Is this the case only with us? What is the world practice?

- There are many countries around the world where the percentage of voluntary blood donors is significantly higher. But this depends on the attitudes of the society itself to help freely. One of the goals of the "Program 2020" of the World He alth Organization is that by 2020 all countries will be able to obtain the blood they need entirely from voluntary blood donors, because

they are the safest donor group

People who receive money for their blood are not interested in telling each other the contraindications, they are not interested in saying, for example, that they took medicine yesterday, that they were sick, and whatever else, because they will be stopped from donating blood. In such cases, the blood is unusable and automatically returns us to the original situation - the need for blood.

Which people are suitable to become blood donors?

- It is enough to be in good general he alth, not taking medication, aged 18 to 65 years, weight over 50 kg, minimum hemoglobin levels for men are 135 and for women 125. This is examined immediately before the actual blood donation and a doctor assesses whether you are he althy.

Men can donate blood up to five times a year, and women up to four, with the minimum interval between two blood donations being eight weeks. So every two to three months a person can safely donate blood. 450 milliliters are taken.

Blood is quantitatively restored

only for 24 to 48 hours, and quality - for about two months. It will not harm your he alth in any way. On the contrary, there are already studies that prove that donating blood stimulates cell renewal, heart activity, etc.n. No side effects, no discomfort. There are myths that you donate blood on an empty stomach. No, on the contrary - a person must have eaten well, drunk water, coffee, so that his circulatory system can work sufficiently actively and the blood pressure is within normal limits. The most important thing is that he drank enough water so that he does not feel weak during the blood donation. After donating blood, it is good for the donor not to exert himself, to take more fluids and higher-energy food.

Some think that there is a danger of getting infected by donating blood itself

- This myth is also common, but it is extremely wrong. All consumables used are sterile and single use. Only doctors from blood centers have the right to perform these manipulations, and they are professionals. There is really no danger to donors.

Reminder which people should not donate blood?

- Pregnant and lactating women should not donate blood. Also, they should not be on cycle. They must not have taken any medication in the last 48 hours, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and even over-the-counter medications. This does not include contraceptives. Donor blood must not have been transfused in the last six months. It is very important that he is not sick with various viral diseases, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS, etc. If a person has had a tattoo, acupuncture or had punctures during other manipulations, he must wait six months.

What does the Bulgarian Voluntary Blood Donation Organization (BODC) do?

- We created our organization because we were convinced that there is a need for more voluntary blood donors in Bulgaria. The people who founded BODK are all volunteers. Our main goal is to encourage and promote voluntary blood donation. We mostly provide information because the lack of it leads to problems. The biggest problem in Bulgaria is that when you or your loved one needs blood, they tell you: "Look for blood donors, otherwise there is no way to help you". At such a time, the anxiety of these people grows even more and many mistakes are made, the biggest of which is to pay those who sell their blood. This is what we struggle with. It is important for us that people know, have information. They can turn to us to help them. Two years ago, we created the "Donate blood" system, with the aim of facilitating and encouraging voluntary blood donors and helping those in need. Voluntary blood donors register and declare their desire to help; those in need are also registered, for whom, after verification by us, we find donors from the system's database. In every way we try to help people who need blood by providing them with the necessary information and assistance.

We support the campaigns of blood centers throughout the country, we hold actions in large companies and organizations. We organize the whole process to make it as easy as possible for them. Our wish is to show that it is not so difficult to donate blood and to encourage more people to do it regularly.

What was your closest stock?

- On July 5, our second joint action was held with the Center for Comprehensive Transformation "Mandala" in their hall at 58 Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd. in Sofia. With the assistance of a team from the National Blood Center and in a much more pleasant atmosphere, the volunteers donated blood. Many people point out that they do not want to donate because of the repulsive atmosphere in the blood centers and especially because of the unpleasant encounter with black blood sellers around the centers themselves. Therefore we strive in these exported shares

to create more pleasant conditions for donors

So we hope that at some point donating blood will become a habit and be regular for every person whose he alth allows.

For the campaigns, we also strive to do pre-registration, because this makes it easier to conduct them, and the commitment is more serious, and most people who register actually come - at least 90%. This is know-how that we have adopted from related organizations abroad with a lot of experience. The action on July 5 was part of the campaign to mark the World Voluntary Blood Donor Day, which takes place every year on June 14. 2015 is spent under the motto "Thank you for donating blood to save me". Leading is the expression of gratitude to those who do it voluntarily and gratuitously, and save millions of people around the world.

The need for blood is daily and does not take into account holidays and weekdays. So every day we have people who help through the "Donate blood" system. A large part of those registered donate mainly to our shares or when we turn to them for a specific need. To our delight, people have already built trust that they can proceed in this way.

Less than 40% of people are he althy enough to donate blood. These people should understand and appreciate their extraordinary privilege to be able to help. And indeed, voluntary blood donors share the immense satisfaction that their blood saves a life.

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