While many people may be familiar with red and white blood cells, plasma plays just as vital in maintaining overall health. From regulating blood pressure to aiding in blood clotting, plasma quietly works behind the scenes to support some of the body’s most critical functions. It’s also essential in life-saving medical treatments for individuals with chronic and rare conditions.
This guide explores plasma’s function in the body and why plasma donation is an impactful way to help others.
What Is Plasma in the Body?
Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood that carries cells, nutrients, and proteins throughout the body. It comprises about 92% water, 7% proteins such as albumin and immunoglobulins, and 1% electrolytes, hormones, and vitamins.
Plasma acts as the body’s delivery system. It ensures that nutrients, proteins, and hormones reach the organs and tissues that need them while helping to remove waste. Without it, vital components like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets won’t be able to travel through the bloodstream.
What Is the Function of Plasma?
Understanding what the function of blood plasma is reveals why it’s so essential to our body’s health. Here are the primary roles plasma plays:
Maintaining Blood Pressure and Volume
Plasma helps regulate blood pressure and blood volume. Its proteins, such as albumin, are crucial for maintaining osmotic pressure, which keeps fluids in the bloodstream and prevents them from leaking into tissues.
This balance ensures proper blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients efficiently to organs and tissues.Transporting Nutrients and Hormones
Plasma moves vital nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and lipids from the digestive system to the rest of the body. It also carries respiratory gases like oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide to the lungs for excretion.
In addition to these roles, plasma is responsible for transporting hormones like insulin and thyroid hormones, allowing them to reach target organs and regulate essential bodily processes.Regulating Body Temperature
One of plasma’s lesser-known functions is regulating body temperature. It helps distribute heat generated by your body’s metabolism, ensuring an even temperature. This regulation is vital for maintaining homeostasis, in which your body’s internal environment remains stable.
What is the Function of Plasma in Blood Clotting and Immunity?
Blood plasma plays a crucial role in both clotting and immune defense. When an injury occurs, it activates clotting factors like fibrinogen, which then converts into fibrin. This forms a mesh-like structure that traps platelets and blood cells, creating a clot that stops bleeding.
Alongside its clotting abilities, plasma is rich in antibodies, or immunoglobulins, essential for fighting infections. These antibodies identify and neutralize harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, supporting the immune system’s ability to protect against disease.
What Is the Function of Blood Plasma in Medical Treatments?
Plasma isn’t just essential to your health – it’s also a life-saving component in medical treatments. Plasma transfusions are commonly used to treat trauma patients, burn victims, and individuals with clotting disorders. The proteins and clotting factors in plasma help restore blood volume, prevent shock, and facilitate recovery for these patients.
This powerful blood component is also used to develop therapies for chronic and rare conditions. Plasma-derived treatments help manage diseases like hemophilia, immune deficiencies, and autoimmune disorders.
The Significance of Donating Plasma
It takes a substantial amount of plasma to treat just one person. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1,200 plasma donations are needed to provide a year’s treatment for someone with hemophilia. In comparison, 130 donations are required for a person with primary immunodeficiency.
For many individuals with these conditions, plasma-derived therapies are the only available treatment option. That’s not all—plasma is also used to create antibodies for treatments like tetanus and rabies and help pregnant women with Rh sensitization protect their babies from complications.
Plasma is in high demand as it is used in emergency medical situations and for long-term care of chronic conditions. Fortunately, donating plasma is simple, safe, and strictly regulated. Before each donation, donors undergo thorough health screening to ensure they’re eligible and in good health.
What makes plasma donation even more remarkable is that plasma naturally replenishes itself quickly. This allows individuals to donate multiple times a year, making plasma donation a sustainable way to contribute regularly to the well-being of others.
Your Plasma Donation Could Be the Lifeline Someone Needs
Blood plasma is more than just a component of your blood—it’s a life-sustaining force that supports crucial bodily functions like maintaining blood pressure, transporting nutrients, and regulating body temperature.
Beyond its role in your own body, plasma is also the key to life-saving treatments for individuals with chronic and rare conditions. By donating plasma, you not only help save lives but also play a critical role in maintaining a stable and reliable plasma supply for those who need it most.
Becoming a plasma donor is a simple yet profound way to make a difference. If you wish to take the next step, schedule your appointment with ABO Plasma today. Your generosity can give someone a chance to lead a healthier life.