JOHNSTON — August is National Wellness Month, which means it’s time to make self-care a priority and build healthy routines by making a blood donation with LifeServe Blood Center this month.

Each blood donation can impact up to three lives in a community. Donating blood can also help people stay aware of their health.

Each donation includes a mini health screening, where staff measure blood pressure, pulse and temperature and perform tests to check your cholesterol and hemoglobin level. These tests can help catch health issues people might not even know about.

“High blood pressure often has no symptoms, and low hemoglobin could be an early sign of anemia

or iron deficiency,” said Dr. Alex Smith, LifeServe Blood Center medical director. “In fact, studies

have found that a significant number of donors, especially younger, first-time donors, are found to

have elevated blood pressure or other health concerns they were previously unaware of.”

If any of results are outside the normal range, LifeServe will let them know so they can follow up

with their provider. Donors can track their health history and each donation in their LifeServe Donor Portal. In this way, donating blood doesn’t just help someone in need, it also gives them a window into their health.

This National Wellness Month, start a new healthy habit of donating blood to benefit health and the community at:

• UnityPoint Health Marshalltown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug 12 at 55 Unity Point Way, Marshalltown

Schedule a lifesaving appointment by visiting lifeservebloodcenter.org or by calling 800-287-4903.