Ask our staff at your next donation on how to do these exercises if you'd like advice. Avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. This is not true. I swear its hit or miss whenever I get my blood drawn. Caribbean Beach Preferred room v. POP Century Standard room. See the tips below to help you prepare. Once you feel those sensations, do your best to lie down promptly, said Dr. Chinitz. Still, while fainting can be caused by something harmless, such as vasovagal syncope, it could also be a symptom of something potentially harmful, noted Dr. Chinitz. To replenish fluid in the body, people need to drink water and other liquids before and after donating blood. We'll have some calcium tablets readythe next time you come in for your plasma donation. Activities associated with ordering, storing, handling and issuing of blood products. If you ask if they've ever fainted during a blood draw, the rate goes up to 5.6%. Do these exercises before the needle goes in or comes out, and before getting up from the donation chair. It usually presents as follows You may feel that you are sweating excessively. This allows them to receive help straight away if they have any adverse side effects. After giving blood, eat a snack that contains sugar to replace the blood sugar lost during the donation process. Muscle-tense activities are one of the finest (and simplest) methods to keep healthy before and after your donation. Giving blood, getting vaccinated, or standing on a stuffy, crowded train carfor some people, these brief moments of everyday discomfort can result in dizziness and a loss of consciousness. Medical Causes of Syncope or Fainting. However, anyone who has persistent or severe health issues after donating blood should contact a doctor or the donation center for advice. Learn more about how long a person should wait before beginning to exercise again and how. If an individual experiences any severe symptoms, they should contact their doctor, or call 911 in an emergency. When the person feels ready, they can return to most of their usual activities, often within a few hours. Foods that contain plenty of iron include: Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, so it is also a good idea to eat foods rich in the vitamin, such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Possible association of a reduction in cardiovascular events with blood donation. Nausea happens less than 1% of the time. A thorough historywith questions on the circumstances leading up to the eventhelps them determine the cause. Other things you should avoid eating include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds, potatoes, carrots, fruits, and vegetables. Fainting It can happen to otherwise healthy people! Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Words Ending in ING-(alphabetical order)..next part. You also might have a slow and weak pulse. Learn more about how to recover after donating blood here. After you donate, don't forget to celebrate what you've achieved. Your fainting spell can be dangerous to others tooimagine the consequences if you pass out while driving. It helps a lot! If you feel dizzy or lightheaded during or after post-donation exercise, sit or lie down until you feel better. Blood donors should take several steps to reduce the risk of passing out during the donation process. It may be beneficial for some hospitals to look up different methods of drawing blood in order to benefit those who have real trouble with it (for instance fainting). I'm still not sure why it happens sometimes. It may also be called neurocardiogenic syncope. If it is the case that my hemoglobin is not being saturated with oxygen as quickly as it should be, then I may be able to conclude that a problem with my hemoglobin is the reason for my passing out. In most cases, feeling bad after donating blood is a short-lived emotion. Eat a proper meal: The first and most important rule is that one must never donate blood on an empty stomach. Some people will experience minor side effects of donating blood, such as lightheadedness, bruising, or light bleeding. Type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline: Is Tai chi more effective than walking? Give yourself a well-deserved break! You must log in or register to reply here. To help prevent bleeding, keep the bandage on, and try to avoid using the arm wherever possible. This diverts blood from the brain, increasing the risk that someone will pass out during the donation process. I think it was a vasovagal response. <> How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28797569/, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html, https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/doing-good-altruism-and-wellbeing-age-austerity, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/iron-rich-foods.html, https://www.oneblood.org/media/blog/donor/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-donate-blood.stml, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/donation-process-overview.html, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663474/, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after.html, https://www.bloodworksnw.org/donate/need-to-know/after-donating, https://www.notifylibrary.org/sites/default/files/Donor%20fainting%2C%20Wieling%2C%20.pdf, Bariatric surgery can treat complications in people with obesity and diabetes. When you donate blood, your body fluid levels will decrease. A person who donates blood frequently may benefit from an iron supplement. If you're giving plasma, ask for calcium tablets, Try muscle tensing exercises during your donation, Stay in the donation chair a bit longer to recover, Avoid standing up for long periods and overheating, Search our forms for health professionals, Feeling anxious about needles, pain or the sight of blood, Needing a longer time to donate or having flow issues, Reacting to the citrate during a plasma donation, Squeeze your inner thigh and abdominal muscles. To my knowledge, my problem is that I internalize the stress that I feel and my symptoms are psychosomatic (fast heart rate, shaking, etc.). Steer clear of caffeine and alcohol. Eligible to donate blood? Giving blood, getting vaccinated, or standing on a stuffy, crowded train carfor some people, these brief moments of everyday discomfort can result in dizziness and a loss of consciousness.. In most cases, feeling bad after donating blood is a short-lived emotion. Know the symptoms that precede faintingfeeling light-headed, tunnel vision, nausea, and sweaty or clammy skin. Consider adding iron-rich foods to your diet to replace the iron lost with blood donation. Donating blood can have positive effects on a person's mental and physical health. Eating something before donating blood can help prevent this reaction. endobj No Nail Polishes or Manicures: When you donate blood, your fingernails and toenails are also tested for disease. (Fainting rarely occurs when you're lying down, said Dr. This article was medically reviewed by Steffini Stalos, DO, who is board-certified in Pathology and Lab Medicine, on June 3, 2022. People who donate blood may also experience side effects, such as minor bruising or feeling lightheaded. endobj This will help prevent fainting after blood donation. I didn't eat before the blood drawing, (probably dumb decision) but, I'm pregnant, and I get nauses 24/7. Your healthcare provider may also do some tests, such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check if you have an irregular heart rate and blood tests to check for anemia, among other more serious potential causes of fainting. According to aan articledone by De Anza College, approximately 150,000 people either faint or exhibit faint like symptoms after having blood taken each year. To avoid discomfort for yourself and others, wear loose-fitting clothes that allow easy access to buttons and zippers. Working out the same day after giving blood can be harmful and may lead to fainting, among other effects. Now, I am not passing out for squeamish reasons of not being able to see blood, I am passing out because my body is not able to handle the loss of blood. A person must wait at least 8 weeks between donations to ensure that their body has enough time to recover. The chemicals used in nail polishes can affect the results of your blood tests. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of donating blood, plus how it affects the body, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. When fainting is caused by certain triggers, like the sight of blood or a needle, or an intense emotion like fear or fright, it's called vasovagal. We hear it all the time: "That was easier than I expected!". If a bruise occurs during blood donation, the process may be discontinued to prevent it from worsening. First- we should establish what fainting is. Faintingis defined asa sudden brief loss of consciousness and posture caused by a decreased blood flow to the brain. Right before fainting, ones blood vessels become dilated and cause low blood pressure. BACKGROUND Whole blood (WB) donation encompasses several periods during which some donors faint. The American Red Cross recommends drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a diet high in iron before a donation appointment. "There is a form of this that needs to be treated more aggressively," Dr. Chinitz said. People who suffer from chronic illnesses may also experience symptoms of these conditions. This is not harmful, but it can cause a drop in your calcium levels. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> You might feel faint, nauseous, or light-headed or, in some cases, lose consciousness. Anyone experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness should stop what they are doing and sit or lie down. If the bruising causes discomfort, cold compresses can help. It is also noteworthy that different types of coffee contain different amounts of minerals. If the hemoglobin is not saturating, it can leader to quicker drops in blood pressure. She went by herself. 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