Why You Should Stay Hydrated Before Donating Blood Plasma
juillet 22, 2021
Staying well-hydrated is extremely important, especially during the summer months. Drinking enough water every day is crucial for preventing infections, delivering nutrients to cells, and keeping your organs functioning properly.
For plasma donors, being well-hydrated is necessary for a successful donation. Keep reading to learn more about why staying hydrated before your plasma donation appointment is so important and what you can do to ensure you’ve consumed enough water!
How Does Hydration Affect Plasma Donation?
Since plasma is 90% water, your level of hydration while donating plasma will impact the viability of your donation. Drinking enough water directly affects how full your vein is and how your plasma is separated during the plasmapheresis process. Ideally, you should drink six to eight cups of water on the day of your donation!
How Can I Tell If I’m Dehydrated?
Dehydration can happen at any time of the year, but it is especially common during the summer months. As a plasma donor, it’s good to know the signs of dehydration to look out for. Here are some symptoms of dehydration you should be aware of:
- Feeling thirsty
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Dry mouth, lips, or eyes
- Less frequent urination and/or dark coloured urine
Tips For Drinking More Water
Even though everyone knows how important drinking water is, it can still be difficult to do at times. These five simple ways to drink more water will help you ensure you’re hydrated for your plasma donation appointment:
1. Set a SMART Daily Goal
SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound) goals are a well-established tool you can use to achieve your goals. Setting a SMART goal for your water intake can help keep you motivated and make drinking enough water a daily habit.
2. Carry A Reusable Water Bottle With You
Carrying a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go is a great way to make sure you never go thirsty! It also serves as a visual reminder that you need to drink water no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
3. Flavour Your Water
Not everyone likes the taste of water, and that’s ok! If you fall into that category, there are several ways you can flavour your water in order to drink more of it, including infusing it with fruit or using store-bought water enhancers.
4. Set Reminders
If you’re forgetful or live a very busy lifestyle, setting reminders to drink more water either through an app or through the alarm feature on your smartphone can be extremely helpful. For example, you can set an alarm to go off every hour to remind yourself to finish your current glass of water.
5. Consume Water Throughout the Day
The best way to ensure you’re drinking enough water is to sip on it throughout the day. Drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning and always having water in arm’s reach can help you boost your water intake.
At the end of the day, the more hydrated you are, the more healthy you’ll be, and your plasma donation appointment will go much smoother as a result! Book your next appointment today to help provide immunocompromised patients with the treatments they need – and don’t forget to drink plenty of water on the day of your donation!
