June 2023 | 15 HEALTH
WHY GIVING PLASMA IS A POWERFUL TOOL
By: d-mars.com News Provider
hroughout the past year, you may have heard about plasma in terms of its potential use in treating COVID-19. However, for more than 80 years, plasma has been a lifeline for thousands of people who live with rare and chronic complex conditions. Plasma donations are critical in helping save lives because they are used to make lifesustaining medicine. Even with the global pandemic shedding light on the role of plasma in fighting disease, many people may not know how thousands around the country rely on plasma every day.
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Do We Have You Hooked Now? Check Out These Five Reasons to Donate Plasma 1. PLASMA IS USED TO MAKE LIFE-SAVING MEDICINE Plasma carries out a variety of functions in the body, including helping the body fight disease. Plasma donations are processed into life-saving medicine for people with rare and chronic conditions including immunodeficiency disorders. Often, there are no alternative treatments for these conditions. Plasma donations are life-changing and provide an opportunity for patients around the country to live a happier and healthier life. 2. PLASMA CANNOT BE MANUFACTURED IN A LAB Even with all the scientific advances we have in the healthcare industry, medicine developed from
plasma can only be made from plasma donated from 5. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR healthy adults. Plasma cannot be manufactured in a PLASMA DONATIONS lab or any other artificial environment. Because of this, plasma has become a scarce yet life-changing With plasma donations lower than usual through the resource for people who rely on these plasma-based pandemic and the demand for medicine developed from plasma growing worldwide, the need for medicines. plasma is more urgent than ever. Global demand 3. THE PLASMA DONATION PROCESS for these therapies has increased over the past 20 years - and continues to grow due to more rare IS SAFE AND FAST Thousands of people donate plasma safely every diseases being identified as well as more patients day. Donating plasma is a low-risk procedure with being diagnosed. However, all of us have the power minimal or no side effects. On a donor’s first visit to make a difference through plasma donation and to a plasma donation center, the whole process, potentially help save lives. including a physical examination, medical screening, So, What Can You Do to Help? and the plasma donation, usually takes about two The need for plasma is greater than ever and BioLife hours. Future visits take less time. Plasma Services is welcoming plasma donors to Because the body quickly replenishes the plasma help at centers around the country. In addition to removed during the donation process, healthy potentially making a positive impact on someone’s individuals may donate as often as twice in a seven- life, plasma donors are compensated in recognition day period, with at least one day between donations. of the time, commitment and the effort required To learn more about the donation process visit www. for their donation. biolifeplasma.com. Find a plasma donation center near you at www. biolifeplasma.com, or by downloading the BioLife 4. MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE ELIGIBLE App. TO DONATE PLASMA To donate plasma, an individual must be at least 18 BioLife Plasma Services is part of Takeda years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and pass all Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Source: StatePoint other required donor eligibility criteria to protect the donor’s health and safety of the plasma. That said, healthy individuals who are eligible to donate their plasma can do so, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
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