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General Fitness & Nutrition: Donating platelets

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    ALSquires29
    I've donated blood on a pretty regular basis for the past few years, and I just found out that my blood type, A positive, is the universal donor for platelets. I figure this would be helping out a lot more people than just donating whole blood, so I'm seriously considering it. Donating whole blood, which you can only do once ever eight weeks or so, has never really had an effect on my training, as long as I don't over-exert myself for about 36 hours after I donate. However, I'm a little concerned about donating platelets and running regularly, because I would probably donate once every two weeks, much more often than I donate blood. Does anyone have any experience with donating platelets or know what sort of effects it can have on exercising? Thanks!
    • CommentAuthormom4hats
    • CommentTimeMay 18th 2008
     
    mom4hats
    Hi, I looked into doing the same a while ago. Where you donate should be able to answer your questions.   From what I remember its a 2 needle process, where they take out the blood, do some sort of processing and put it back the fluids minus the platelets in your other arm.  I also remember the donation requirements were much more strict that when I donate blood (more ht and wt restrictions).  Unfortunately I can't give due to the location of the donation center is over 1 hr drive away, plus the time involved with my schedule and kids its just not possible right now.  I would think if your healthy and give blood on a regular basis you'll be fine.  Maybe you could keep to your 36 hr plan?  Hats off to you on your willingness to be supportive to a good cause!
    • CommentAuthormeeneghan
    • CommentTimeMay 19th 2008
     
    meeneghan

    First of all, props to you for deciding to do this.  Most people don't even donate blood, much less platelets!  As a future hematologist/oncologist, I can say that the world would be a better place if there were more people like you running around!  For more info on the process, wikipedia has a decent article.

     So, I don't think donating platelets will really have an effect on your training.  The two reasons that whole blood would possibly hinder training would be loss of blood volume in general (which is replaced by proper hydration within a day or so), but - more importantly - a decrease in the number of circulating red blood cells (RBCs).  Less RBCs = less O2 carying capacity = less 02 to muscles = decreased performance.  It takes your bone marrow a little time to gear up and replace those lost RBCs, which is why you can only donate every so often. Having said that, I doubt it would have long-term effects on training. 

    Platelet donation is a little bit different.  First of all, you're not losing as much total blood volume (which wasn't that big of a deal in the first place), but you're also not loosing any RBCs.  It's the RBCs that oxygenate your tissues and are essential to aerobic activities.  Platelets have no aerobic capacity; therefore, lacking only them should not affect your training.

     In the end, the good you would be doing by donating platelets would far outweigh any negligible effect that donating would have on your training.

     I hope that helped!

     Matt

    • CommentAuthorHAL9000
    • CommentTimeMay 19th 2008
     
    HAL9000

    I have been donating Platelets for about 15 years (whole blood before for about 14 before that) and have never let donating slow me down.  For me, I have hardly felt any effect after Platelet donating.  Whole blood, yes, a bit.  As matter of fact I would regularly go surfing after whole blood donating.  These days I will ride to my Platlet appointment (to the chagrin of the techs) and hammer home after.  I always do make sure i am well hydrated before and after my attchment to the machine.

    Now I'm NOT suggesting that you or others do as I still do, just to say that platelet donating may very well have minimal to no affect on your training.

    BTW, I just turned 50,  so it can be done...

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