Working Out After Giving Blood

Nysportsred
Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Would doing 65-75 minutes on the elliptical about 7 hours after giving blood be ok or does giving blood more or less mean taking the day off from exercise?

I got two answers to the same question by one lady today when I gave so I am confused.

Replies

  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I guess I would go by how I feel. Take it easy and see how it goes. Make sure you've eaten enough today.
  • Bianca42
    Bianca42 Posts: 310 Member
    The literature that they make you read for the Red Cross says to take it easy for a day. I usually workout in the morning, give blood and then make the next day either a rest day or a yoga day.

    It says student athletes shouldn't donate on game/race days. (I think...I skim the student part because I'm way past that.)
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    The people at my donation center always tell me to "take it easy for the rest of the day". If you want to give it a shot, I would suggest going slower than you otherwise would and stop if you feel at all weak or lightheaded. And depending on how you use the machine, don't put weight on the arm you used for the donation.

    I'm usually wiped out for the rest of the day after I donate, so I just take a walk if there is till a lot of day left. But it affects everyone differently.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I like to do some light yoga on a blood donation day. I still get "something" in.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    edited January 2017
    You've just had about 12% of your oxygen carrying capability removed. Why would you want to push it right afterwards?

    If you don't care about yourself, at least have some consideration for the people who will have to pick you up off the floor and fill out an incident report after you pass out.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Exercise earlier. Give blood later.
  • tri_bob
    tri_bob Posts: 121 Member
    That recommendation to take it easy the rest of the day is a sound one. My experience has been that moderate steady-state efforts over the next two weeks or so are fine, but it takes about that long to go back to doing hard efforts (e.g., track workouts or hill repeats). You're not going to lose any fitness by taking the day off, and it's the safer thing to do. Just another $.02 from a stranger, and as ever YMMV.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Having passed out the last time I gave blood (at work, how freaking embarrassing), I vote "wait until tomorrow."
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    MeganAM89 wrote: »
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    Having passed out the last time I gave blood (at work, how freaking embarrassing), I vote "wait until tomorrow."

    I pass out every time if I'm not given an IV at the same time. I drain too quickly lol

    It was a first for me. Came to as they were calling 911... :/ Strangely enough, I haven't given blood since.
  • ljmorgi
    ljmorgi Posts: 264 Member
    Purely anecdata, but DBF walked a couple miles in the cold after giving blood and nearly passed out at the wheel afterward (he managed to park without hitting either the neighbor's car or ours), got out, fell and hit his face on the back of the van, knocking a piece off a front tooth, and then passed out cold on the porch. I vote to wait. XD
  • NEOHgirl
    NEOHgirl Posts: 237 Member
    There are 2 reasons to not work out the day you donate. First, as others have stated, you've lost a significant of your blood volume, so the energy and oxygen you are used to getting from your body just isn't there. Second, working out raises your blood pressure and heart rate. The donation site is a wound, and the increase in blood pressure might cause it to reopen. If you want to work out, I'd wait at least a few hours, and maybe do a treadmill or go to a much lower intensity and for less time than normal.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/466756-can-i-exercise-after-donating-blood/

  • GraybrielFit
    GraybrielFit Posts: 18 Member
    Recommend against it. You'll lose more water through sweat, which can be dangerous when your blood volume is already lowered. Rest or do some light stretching or a walk, drink extra water, and eat a little more than you normally would. One day isn't going to kill you, and you need time to recover. The only time I've ever come close to passing out after giving blood was when I jogged a couple miles on a hot day right afterwards - bad, bad plan.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    Having passed out the last time I gave blood (at work, how freaking embarrassing), I vote "wait until tomorrow."

    This happened to me as well. Take it easy after giving blood. The workout can wait a day.
  • _incogNEATo_
    _incogNEATo_ Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited January 2017
    Azdak wrote: »
    You've just had about 12% of your oxygen carrying capability removed. Why would you want to push it right afterwards?

    If you don't care about yourself, at least have some consideration for the people who will have to pick you up off the floor and fill out an incident report after you pass out.

    I don't see where OP said he was definitely going to run. He's asking.

    OP, I'd recommend taking it easy after giving blood. The elliptical will still be there tomorrow. If you vote to give it a shot, it doesn't HAVE to be 60-75 minutes. It could be 15-20 minutes.
  • dynamitedawn
    dynamitedawn Posts: 17 Member
    Great forum, I was wondering myself how long to rest x
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    edited January 2017
    I'd wait until the next day for anything strenuous. I tried a run the following morning once - my worst ever run, legs felt like lead.

    Thank you for your donation.
  • MissBeeGonz
    MissBeeGonz Posts: 141 Member
    I wouldn't do it.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Mu husband's a nurse and he always waits the recommended 24 hours.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    I would definitely do an "easy" workout if you do...

    I know you mentioned cardio, but even keep on eye on your lifting--my brother is a body builder and he always has a weird reaction in the bicep on the arm where the needle was--it looks "deflated" and stays that way for a couple of days.

    Make sure you drink lots of water regardless!
  • Nysportsred
    Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
    _incogNEATo_ wrote: »
    Azdak wrote: »
    You've just had about 12% of your oxygen carrying capability removed. Why would you want to push it right afterwards?

    If you don't care about yourself, at least have some consideration for the people who will have to pick you up off the floor and fill out an incident report after you pass out.

    I don't see where OP said he was definitely going to run. He's asking.

    OP, I'd recommend taking it easy after giving blood. The elliptical will still be there tomorrow. If you vote to give it a shot, it doesn't HAVE to be 60-75 minutes. It could be 15-20 minutes.


    Yeah seemed a bit unnecessary and aggressive, but first rude response I've come across on these forums when adking any questions so I'll take that ratio of helpful to ridiculous any time.

    Reason I asked is because I've been donating for years and never knew about waiting 24 hours after. Only thing they ever told me was don't smoke (don't anyway), and wait a little before driving. As far as exercise I've been told "wait a few hours" but today is the first time I ever heard a nurse say "...for the rest of the day." So i asked "ok the rest of the day or a few hours?" "Oh a few hours." I said "ok" and then she said "just remember to rest for the rest of the day." WHAT? Lol.

    I had to take Mon and Tues off this week and with a 2 1/2 year old and 2 week old around I try to exercise when I know I will have a definite block of time to do so like today.

    Knowing this I still would have donated though obviously.

Categories