Surprising Benefits of Donating Blood Over 50—From a Health Boost to Younger-Looking Skin
It’s a good deed that could even make wrinkles diminish
Giving blood saves lives and—surprise!—one of those lives could be your own. There are a number of reasons for this, but here’s a biggie: Your body quickly begins replacing blood you donate with new and often healthier blood, say experts. And this leads to potential benefits of donating blood, like better circulation, better heart health, even improvements in your skin. Wow!
And there’s no need to worry about your age or if you have common health issues like high cholesterol or prediabetes. The Red Cross says even people with full-blown diabetes can donate if they’re feeling well, and common medications for conditions like high cholesterol and high blood sugar are not an issue. “Blood donation is generally safe for women over age 50, and there is no upper age limit,” confirms Emily Coberly, MD, Divisional Chief Medical Officer for the American Red Cross and a liaison to the Transfusion, Apheresis, and Cellular Therapy Committee of the College of American Pathologists. Dr. Coberly adds that those of us who are older may have the most to gain from donating blood.
4 surprising ways you could benefit from giving blood
A free mini-health screening
“During each donation, donors receive basic health screenings, including checks of blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin,” says Dr. Coberly. “This routine screening may occasionally reveal conditions like anemia or elevated blood pressure.” You’ll be informed so you can follow up with your primary care doctor and head off problems. Your blood may also be tested for things like hepatits and West Nile Virus. Think of it as a little bonus check between annual physicals.
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Heart protection
Back in 1998, findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that men who donated blood at least occasionally were 88 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack than non-donors. Since then, studies on heart benefits have been mixed and Dr. Coberly says there’s no definitive link so far. But a 2019 study in the journal Heart found that among nearly 160,000 participants, women who donated blood regularly had a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
One theory is that donating blood can help reduce excess iron in the blood, and high iron stores are believed to increase the risk of heart issues. Worth noting: Menstruation can reduce excess iron in women, which has led some experts to suggest that blood donation allows postmenopausal women to continue getting the benefit.
Another factor that may be at play: Blood donation helps to lower the viscosity of the blood, which can help prevent the formation of blood clots, heart attacks and stroke, according to experts in transfusion medicine from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Cancer prevention
A 2025 study in the journal Blood found that frequent blood donation may trigger subtle genetic changes that lower risk of blood cancers like leukemia. More research is needed, but it’s “a very interesting and exciting study,” says Dr. Coberly.
Smoother skin
There’s evidence that excess iron in our blood can make skin wrinkle faster, which prompted testing to see if blood donation might improve “skin aging through the reduction of iron deposits,” per a 2022 study in the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. Preliminary research on elderly mice suggests blood donation can indeed reduce iron, improve collagen, lead to healthier skin and generally confer anti-aging benefits.
Expect your overall wellbeing to improve too
The Red Cross says that every time we donate blood, we save up to three lives. It feels good to do good—and our bodies benefit from the positive vibes. In a news release from NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. transfusion medicine expert Sarah Vossoughi, MD, noted that the “altruism effect” helps ensure that blood donors “have better health and longer lives.”
Ready to donate? Get tips and find opportunities near you at RedCrossBlood.org.
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