Can You Have Anemia By Donating Blood?

Anemia is a blood disorder that happens when your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, or the red blood cells are not functioning well. You may feel weak, tired, and also experience shortness of breathe. As per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), one of the main causes of iron deficiency anemia is blood loss. It is also true that you effective lose your blood when you donate. This is because hemoglobin levels dip, since it is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to your organs and tissues.

This is what happens in anemia, when the hemoglobin levels dip from your red blood cells, leaving it unable to complete its functions properly.

Donating blood with anemia?

As per the National Institutes of Health, you must have a minimum level of hemoglobin before you can donate. For males, it is 13.0 g/dL, and females, it is 12.5 g/dL. In case your hemoglobin levels are lower than mentioned, you will be diagnosed as anemic and will not be allowed to donate blood.

In case you do not meet the minimum requirements, you will be required to wait 30 days before being allowed to donate blood.

Anemia after donating blood

In most cases, donating blood can lead to iron deficiency anemia, however, the good news is that there are treatments available. As per the NHLBI, it takes around 3 to 6 months to restore iron levels after you donate blood.

The first-line treatment is the most common for iron deficiency anemia, where you are required to consume iron supplements. A healthcare professional may also recommend eating food high in iron, this diet includes:

animal products, like meat, fish, liver, etc.

plant-based foods such as legumes, dark leafy greens, and grains

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Other available treatments include:

Intravenous (IV) iron infusion

You may need an IV infusion if you cannot consume by mouth, cannot absorb iron adequately through the gut, cannot absorb enough iron due to blood loss and need to increase iron levels to avoid medical complications.

The easiest way to prepare for an IV infusion is by ensuring that you have had your breakfast and lunch, as you do not need to fast for this, that you have been regular with your medicines and you will be prepared to have a small IV drip put in your arm or hand.

This process usually takes place in the hemodialysis center of a hospital, where a healthcare profession uses a needle to insert a small tube into a vein, known as a catheter. The needle is then removed, leaving the catheter to your vein, which is attached to a long tube, connected with an IV bag of iron. The solution is then either pumped to your vein or uses gravity to slowly drip down the tube into your vein.

Medications and supplements

Iron supplements are one of the common medicines prescribed for anyone with anemia. These medicines are called ferrous sulfate that help build and replenish iron levels in your body. Your doctor may also suggest to take vitamin C supplements.

Blood transfusion

This happens if your hemoglobin drops lower than 7 to 8g/dL. As per a 2017 report in the journal Blood Transfusion, a more individualized assessment of a person with anemia with hemoglobin levels or other health indicators are required before the person can have access to repeat blood transfusion procedures.

During this process, am IV is inserted, but not to iron supplements or saline water, but with donated blood, which slowly flows into your blood vessel. This process may take 1 to 4 hours.