A Pint of the Good Stuff

What just popped into your mind?  Coors?  Heineken?  Maybe a nice cold Bud Light Lime?

Nope, this time I'm talking about O negative, as in my blood type.  I just finished making my 10th donation despite being a life long needle phobe.  My first donation was a spur of the moment thing. Just happened to hear the call for donations on the radio as I was driving by the hotel where the clinic was set up.  For some reason I didn't even think twice, just turned in and started the process.  Turns out it was probably one the best decisions I ever made.  Because giving blood may have actually saved my own life.

During the pre-donation screening process they test your hemoglobin for iron, take your temperature and your blood pressure.  'Your blood pressure is a little high,' I was informed.  'DUH!  No kidding I'll bet it's a little high.  I'm about to be stabbed with a needle.'  Next donation, same thing, even though I wasn't so nervous this time around.  By the third donation I was informed that my blood pressure was 201/100.  WHAT??!!  How was my head not exploding?  They let me sit and relax a bit before checking it again and I was within their acceptable range to give my pint.  'You should see your doctor,' they recommended.  'DUH!  No kidding.'

Turns out I have high blood pressure.  'How can this be?' I lamented.  'I don't have any of the life style risk factors.  I don't smoke, I'm not obese, I exercise all the time, the salt shaker has been banished from my table, I rarely eat fast food, and I'm definitely not stressed.'  (Okay, maybe I was a little stressed but only after the diagnosis.)  'Did either of my parents have high BP?'  'Yeah, both of them.' 'Well genetics outweighs all the lifestyle factors.'  'Gee, thanks, Mom and Dad.'

So here's something for you to think about.  When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked at the doctor's?  I know for me, number one:  I rarely needed to go to the doctor.  And number two:  whenever I did go, my blood pressure wasn't checked.  The days of the complete physical seem to be long gone.  So now I'm on medication.  Every morning when I get up the first thing I do is take my little white pill.  And I monitor my BP at home.  This is serious business because the consequences are far too scary:  kidney disease, impaired vision, stroke, hardening of the arteries, heart attack, congestive heart failure.  Gulp.  I've seen first hand what can happen -- my mother is in renal failure and has kidney dialysis three times every week.  I love my mother but those are some footsteps I don't want to follow in.

I believe that everything happens for a reason.  And it's pretty clear to me now why I made that decision out of the blue to donate a pint.  Today when I was checked at the clinic my BP was 130/78. That's a long way from my exploding head just a year ago.

And if you need one, there's another good reason to give blood.  I mean, other than the fact that you may help to save someone else's life.  It's a guilt free way to put your feet up and eat cookies.