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Kota Kinabalu: Donating blood reduces your risk of heart disease. A blood donation drive will be held at the Calvary Charismatic Church in Tanjung Aru this Saturday from 10am July 13 open to people from all walks of life.

According to one of the organisers, Tan Kian Mon, who has led many missions to alleviate poverty in rural areas, blood donors are 33 per cent less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and 88 per cent less likely to suffer a heart attack, based on the published findings of many reputable studies.

“The lowered health risks have to do with iron depletion. Iron has a significant impact on the body.

“High blood iron can cause a variety of symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, hardening of arteries, accelerated cholesterol oxidation, decreased libido and enlarged liver, to name a few.

“High levels of iron leads to free-radical damage in the body and has been linked to an increased risk of cancer as well,” he said.

When donating blood, you are removing 225 to 250 mg of iron from your body, reducing your risk of health complications, lowering blood pressure.

“In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that those between the ages of 43 and 61 had fewer heart attacks and strokes when they had donated blood every six months.”

A one-time blood donation can burn up to 650 calories, as the body has to work hard to replenish itself. Although there are many benefits to donating blood just one time, the people who benefit from blood donations are regular donors. A donor can only give blood every 56 days.

According to a study in the Journal of Health Psychology found that people who volunteered unselfishly had a significantly reduced risk of mortality than those who never volunteer. “What a wonderful, unselfish gift to give!” Tan said.

Before every blood donation, you’ll get your iron (haemoglobin) level checked, and your blood pressure and pulse rate taken. This will be of great benefit to you. Any potential “red flags” will be discovered. Every time you donate blood, you can help up to three or four recipients.