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Do well to live well, folks.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and in the US, where it kills over 700,000 Americans each year.
The good news is that one simple, selfless act could help lower your risk of heart disease — giving blood.
Despite that cardiac incentive, according to the American Red Cross, only 3% of Americans donate blood.
The organization emphasizes the importance of donation, as this generous act ensures that people in emergencies and those with chronic illnesses can receive the transfusions they need.
The relationship between heart health and blood donation likely stems from two key factors: the iron pathway and the blood viscosity pathway.
Research has suggested that there is a greater incidence of heart disease in men and postmenopausal women as a result of higher levels of stored iron.
Excess iron can damage blood vessels and increase the likelihood of plaque disruption and blood clotting, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.
There is some scientific evidence that blood donation can be therapeutic, especially for individuals with excess iron stores.
Humans naturally lose a small amount of iron every day through the shedding of their skin and mucosal cells.
Women of a certain age also lose iron through menstrual bleeding, but men don’t have that option. Enter blood donation.
The second factor potentially linking blood donation with better heart health is blood viscosity, defined as the thickness and stickiness of blood.
Viscosity directly affects vascular function, as increased viscosity requires the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.
Experts explain that a high hemoglobin level can increase blood viscosity, which has been linked to a higher risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
Blood donation helps lower blood viscosity, potentially mitigating these risks.
A 2022 review of 44 studies found that nine reported a protective effect of blood donation, while five studies found no impact on cardiovascular risk factors.
The researchers noted that the results linking blood donation to a decreased heart attack risk might be due to a bias known as the Healthy Donor Effect (HDE).
Individuals in poor health are less likely to register as blood donors, donate frequently or donate throughout their lives.
Conversely, healthy individuals are more likely to donate their blood and have that blood selected by blood supply organizations.
As a result, the cardiovascular benefits of blood donation may be falsely attributed to the donation rather than the healthiness of the donor population.
There may be one clearer connection between blood donation and heart health.
Donation is an altruistic act, and a 2015 study found that people who donate to charity have lower blood pressure, even when controlling for factors such as income, wealth, age and exercise, which suggests that the giving itself is responsible for the protective effect.
