You know you're getting old when you celebrate Cinco de Mayo by donating blood.
It's been 112 days since my last blood donation, which happens to be the limit between donations when you have a "power red" donation. This donation involves removing double the amount of red blood cells, which are the most needed.
The reason I donate blood regularly is that I have a very high ferritin level. Ferritin is a marker for iron in the blood. For men, normal ferritin levels should be between 30 and 400 micrograms per liter. My last measurement in December was over 1,000. So, that's a yikes. Abnormal ferritin levels are associated with bad health outcomes. The easiest way to lower ferritin is to donate blood because the iron goes right out with the red blood cells. In a few weeks, I will have labs drawn, and we'll see what effect the blood donations have had on my ferritin level.
Donating blood is a win-win. I get to help people I will never meet. I also get the benefit of lowering iron and forcing my body to replenish blood cells with fresh ones. In fact, there is a theory that one of the many reasons why the average life expectancy of women is higher than the average life expectancy of men is the regular shedding of blood in the form of menses.
For some reason, I associate donating blood and going for lab work with a food reward afterward. Tonight, I have already scoped out the Mexican restaurant named Carolina's where there will surely be a machaca chimichanga with my name on it along with a fresh-made tortilla. Low-carb is out the window tonight!
It's been 112 days since my last blood donation, which happens to be the limit between donations when you have a "power red" donation. This donation involves removing double the amount of red blood cells, which are the most needed.
The reason I donate blood regularly is that I have a very high ferritin level. Ferritin is a marker for iron in the blood. For men, normal ferritin levels should be between 30 and 400 micrograms per liter. My last measurement in December was over 1,000. So, that's a yikes. Abnormal ferritin levels are associated with bad health outcomes. The easiest way to lower ferritin is to donate blood because the iron goes right out with the red blood cells. In a few weeks, I will have labs drawn, and we'll see what effect the blood donations have had on my ferritin level.
Donating blood is a win-win. I get to help people I will never meet. I also get the benefit of lowering iron and forcing my body to replenish blood cells with fresh ones. In fact, there is a theory that one of the many reasons why the average life expectancy of women is higher than the average life expectancy of men is the regular shedding of blood in the form of menses.
For some reason, I associate donating blood and going for lab work with a food reward afterward. Tonight, I have already scoped out the Mexican restaurant named Carolina's where there will surely be a machaca chimichanga with my name on it along with a fresh-made tortilla. Low-carb is out the window tonight!
Also what's the highest frequency you can donate blood if you do a non power red?