National Blood Donor Month

January can be a tough month for blood banks. Donations are often down because of holiday vacations, bad weather, and people sick with cold and flu. According to the American Red Cross, 13,000 blood donations are needed each day to be able to help all the patients in need. To encourage donations this time of year, January is National Blood Donor Month.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Justin Kreuter, a Mayo Clinic transfusion medicine physician, will explain the importance of blood donation and how you can become a donor. Also on the program, Dr. Edward Laskowski, co-director of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, will share new exercise guidelines for cancer patients. Then Dr. Adela Taylor, a Mayo Clinic Health System allergy and immunology physician, will explain how to manage upper respiratory illness. And Kristen Frie, a Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program registered dietitian, will explain the new Nutrition Facts labels.