Unless you beat the odds, you'll probably need blood at some point in your life. According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs a unit of blood nearly every two seconds. Although saving a life is enough reason to roll up your sleeve, studies suggest that donating blood may also benefit your heart. 

  If you have excess iron in your bloodstream, donating blood may reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke. Although iron is essential to good health, too much of a good thing can be dangerous — and blood loss is about the only way to get rid of the mineral. A 1997 study published in the British journal Heart reported that men who had given at least a pint of blood every three years were 30 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, undergo heart surgery or require heart medications than men who had not given blood. Other studies suggest similar findings. 

  Spurring the research may be the fact that women who lose blood through menstruation have about half the amount of iron in their bodies as men do, as well as half the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

  Donating blood is a safe and simple process. Before giving blood, a health care professional will ask about your medical history. No one who is sick or engages in high-risk sexual activities should donate blood. Your vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature and pulse, will be checked. Finally, a drop of blood from your fingertip will be used to test your hemoglobin level. If everything checks out, the next step is donation. You'll feel the initial pinch of the needle, but your only job is to relax. Donating a unit of blood can take less than 10 minutes.

  Once the blood leaves your arm, it flows through rigorous processing, testing and quality control procedures. If all safety standards are met, your blood will be separated into its components — red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma — and stored for future use. Using each element, one unit of donated blood can help as many as five people!*

  If you don't give blood because you think your donation won't matter, remember that the nation's blood supply is limited. You could make the difference for an accident victim or someone undergoing emergency surgery. Both rare and common blood types are in demand at all times. If you think you don't have the time, consider this: Donating blood takes about an hour, but you may save someone an entire lifetime.

  Anyone over age 17 who weighs at least 110 pounds is eligible to donate blood. If you're healthy, your blood is a precious resource. To find a convenient blood bank or local blood drive, contact your local American Red Cross chapter or, in the Mid-South, call Life Blood at (901) 522-8585.

*Information Source: Science World.