Everyone is living for a purpose. A purpose that makes us live for someone else and another day. And yet, living can sometimes be exhausting even though we are surrounded by people who love us. Everyone is cut from the same cloth made from blood and bones.
Human blood is unusual in many ways; one question that frequently crosses my mind is “How much blood do we need to live?”
Why do we need blood?
- Provides nutrients such as amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose to the body.
- Transports oxygen and carbon dioxide from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- Keeps body pH, temperature, and cellular water content stable.
- Eliminates waste products such as urea, lactic acid, and carbon dioxide.
- Helps prevent blood loss via clotting.
How much blood do we really need?
Only around a cup of blood will be present in the body of a newborn baby as opposed to 54-68 kg. A typical adult’s blood volume is between 4.5 to 5.7 litres.
Adults can often lose up to 14% of their blood without any significant negative consequences or changes to their vital signs. Some people could experience lightheadedness or vertigo.
Note: You will die soon if you lose more than 40% of your blood i.e., roughly 2 litres of blood.
Facts about Human Blood:
- Medical professionals take around half a litre of blood from people who donate blood.
- Human blood contains roughly 0.02% gold.
- The presence of a red pigment called haemoglobin gives human blood its red colour.
- The rate of loss and reproduction is about 50 millilitres every 24 hours.
- Only 1% of our donors have the AB-negative blood type, which is the rarest of the eight primary blood types.
There is no life without blood.
Also Read: Why are Blood Types Unique?
