Accidents, catastrophes, illnesses - all this is an unpleasant component of life. Statistics indicate that every third inhabitant of the planet needs blood at least once in a lifetime. But fear prevents many from becoming a donor. Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein? A pleasant procedure really can not be called. But such an event is the price of someone's life.
What is blood donation?
Donation is called voluntary blood donation for the further use of biological material for medical purposes. In medical institutions, blood reserves are created, thanks to which it is possible to provide timely assistance to victims of illnesses or disasters. In addition, donated blood can be used to create drugs or for research purposes.
Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein? Donation is a noble event. This should be considered first. Blood sampling from a vein is a procedure accompanied by a slight pain. Moreover, even 300 ml of blood can save a person’s life.
Who can become a blood donor?
Any person aged 18 to 50 years can become a blood donor. However, there are some contraindications. First of all, this includes recent infections, trips to tropical places of the world, the presence of chronic pathologies. A donor cannot be a woman during lactation. They will also not take blood from people whose weight is less than 50 kg.
Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein? To a large extent, it depends on the pain threshold. The well-being of a person at the time of the procedure also matters. If a headache or cold symptoms are present, it will not be possible to act as a donor. It is worth considering that the minimum dose of blood sampling is 350 ml. Even this is enough for loss of consciousness if the donor has problems with the cardiovascular system or if he simply did not get enough sleep.
Medical institutions need only high-quality biological material. Therefore, it is important to identify the condition of the potential donor, whether it can be allowed to donate blood.
Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein?
The procedure does not require anesthesia. Short-term discomfort can be observed only when installing a gum-seal, as well as when a needle is inserted into a vein. It all depends on the experience of the nurse who is carrying out the procedure. The state of the cardiovascular system of the patient himself also matters. It happens that a nurse cannot immediately enter a vein. In this case, the pain will have to endure a little longer.
Is it painful to donate blood from a vein for the first time? In fact, there is no difference how many times the procedure has already been performed. Of great importance is the psychological attitude. Experienced nurses specifically conduct conversations with patients on abstract topics so that the person does not focus on unpleasant sensations. In addition, it is not recommended to look at the process of piercing a vein with a needle.
Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein to hormones? The collection of biological material is carried out in the usual way - in the same way as in the case of donation. The only difference is that in the future the blood goes to the laboratory to study the level of hormones.
Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein to children? Kids usually react worse to any medical manipulation. Therefore, it is important to properly configure the child, to distract him during the procedure itself.
During blood sampling in children or some adult patients, there may be a slight malaise due to the loss of red blood cells. The nurse carefully monitors the patient's condition during the procedure. Nearby there is always ammonia in case of loss of consciousness. In addition to pain, after blood donation, the following unpleasant sensations can be observed: slight chills, drowsiness, decreased performance.
Many donors do not observe any changes in their well-being. Some, on the contrary, note a mood increase, improved performance.
Blood donation preparation
It is painful to donate blood from a vein to a specific person for donation, it will be possible to find out only during the procedure. And in order for the event to take place with minimal losses, it is worth preparing the body correctly. A few days before the blood donation, it is recommended to abandon all harmful products and strengthen the drinking regimen. An adult is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of pure water per day. You can supplement the diet with fruit drinks, dried fruit compotes, weak tea.
If you have to take medicine, the obligation should be reported to the specialist who conducts the examination before the procedure. The day before blood donation, you should not take any analgesics. Temporarily have to give up bad habits. Alcohol can be consumed 48 hours before the event. Immediately before blood donation, it is recommended to drink a glass of tea with sugar.
How is the procedure performed?
In a medical facility, whole blood or its components (plasma, platelets) can be taken. The patient arrives at the appointed time (most often in the morning), undergoes an examination. A potential donor is measured pressure, pulse, interested in his well-being. Then the patient lies on the couch, exposing the elbow. After treatment of the area with the antiseptic, a vein puncture is performed. This is the most painful moment of the procedure. There are two positive aspects here:
- all nurses enter the vein the first time in 99% of cases;
- blood transfusion needles are very sharp, which reduces pain.
After the procedure, the puncture site is clamped with a swab and sealed with adhesive tape.
At one time, a person can donate no more than 450 ml of blood. Women can become donors no more than 4 times a year, men - up to 5 times a year.
Where does the blood go
Biological material, which is taken from donors, enters the blood service. Applications from various medical institutions come here: maternity hospitals, oncology centers, surgical and trauma departments, etc. In addition, blood and its components are necessary for conducting important studies and creating medicines. The taken material can be stored in special conditions for up to 40 days. Plasma does not lose its properties until three years at a temperature of no higher than -25 degrees Celsius.
Effects
As a rule, after the procedure, the body recovers quite quickly. After blood donation, it is recommended to eat tightly, drink a cup of tea with sugar and put off important things. The next day, the donor can already lead a full-fledged lifestyle. The procedure is not harmful to the body if the patient meets the requirements of medical personnel. Moreover, donation can also be beneficial. Indeed, special requirements are imposed on a person. He must lead a healthy lifestyle, eat well and give up bad habits.
Summarize. Does it hurt to donate blood from a vein? Unpleasant sensations are present, but they are compensated by the benefits of the procedure for both the person himself and for medicine as a whole.