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Published on: Apr 13, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Plasma Treatment For COVID-19?

TREATING COVID WITH BLOOD

We have previously covered proposed treatments for COVID-19, in particular hydroxychloroquine, and explained why we shouldn’t look for a magic cure for this disease. Viruses are difficult to treat, and ultimately supportive treatment appears to be best we can achieve. But an editorial published in BioMedicine Central appears to show a novel treatment for the most ill patients, one that may have flown under most people’s radar.

“A novel treatment approach to the novel coronavirus: an argument for the use of therapeutic plasma exchange for fulminant COVID-19”

An interesting title. Lets dissect it.

SUMMARY

- Blood is made up of many different components

- The immune system recognises the virus and produces antibodies against it to neutralise it

- These antibodies float in the blood plasma, a watery solution

- The plasma can be extracted from donated blood, and given to patients suffering from COVID-19

- So far evidence suggests it can help treat the most seriously affected patients.

WHAT IS IN OUR BLOOD

To understand this we must first understand what our blood is made of. Most people know that blood functions to transport oxygen from our lungs. But this is an oversimplification. Blood has many different functions:

- Transport: along with oxygen it transports sugars, fats, protein subunits throughout the body. This is done with the watery PLASMA of the blood.

- Clot: cells and protein structures act to plug any holes that form from cuts and damage. This is done by the PLATELETS in the blood

- Immunity: Immune cells respond to bacteria, viruses, parasites in the blood and body. They target these pathogens, identify and tag them with antibodies, and ultimately destroy them. This is done by the WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

And many more functions that we won’t bore you with.

IMMUNITY

It is this last point that is of interest to us. Our immune system consists of white blood cells that can recognise invading organisms in the blood, around cells and even invaders hiding within our own cells. All cells have protein markers on their surface, no matter if its human cells, bacterial, viral, fungal etc. These markers can be highlighted and targeted by specialised white blood cells, who in turn produce antibodies against these markers. Think of antibodies as handcuffs with flares attached: once attached other white blood cells use this information to find and destroy the invaders.

What is amazing about antibodies is how complex they are. The proteins in our body are incredibly complex. They are long chains that fold into unique shapes depending on hundreds of different types of chemical interactions. These are so complex that supercomputers can take literal years to figure out the shape of a single protein and how it folds depending on the subunits in its chain. This means that our immune system has to recognise these markers and figure out a complementary tag out of hundreds of billions of potential sequences. Antibodies have to be specific to their tag. If an antibody is produced that can target more than one tag, it can cause problems. If it targets a bacterial tag, but accidentally highlights the person’s cells as well, the immune system will start targeting and destroying the person’s organs. These auto-immune disorders can be devastating.

But when they work, antibodies are miraculous. They persist in the blood after an infection, and if a second infection occurs, memory cells in the blood can rapidly produce these antibodies before the infection can even produce symptoms. This is known as immunity, and is why we usually don’t get the same illness twice. Antibody based treatment is see as the future of medical therapy, and is something we will cover in future blogs.

PLASMA EXCHANGE

From population testing we can see that the majority of patients with COVID-19 recover, experiencing either mild symptoms, moderate symptoms requiring some form of treatment and hospitalisation, or no symptoms whatsoever. In these patients their immune system will have successfully recognised the virus and produced antibodies against it to neutralise the virus. It is the patients with severe symptoms, those in which the virus is running rampant in the body, that the production of antibodies happens too late.

Plasma exchange involves obtaining blood from patients who have beaten the virus, spinning the blood to separate out the red cells, white cells, platelets and watery plasma. The plasma contains all the glucose, small proteins and importantly for us, the antibodies. This plasma can be transfused into patients with COVID-19 that cannot cope, in order to help their immune system. These transfused antibodies will neutralise some of the viruses in the patient, reducing the viral load, amount of replication and cell destruction that causes such devastating symptoms in COVID-19.

The published editorial showed that in the most critical pneumonia patients, requiring mechanical ventilators and drugs to support the heart, mortality in plasma exchange patients resulted in a 47.8% mortality instead of 81.3%. Of course it is a single study with a limited number of patients, but the results are encouraging. It is further helped by the fact plasma exchange is a well established therapy, with established protocols known to intensivists and haematologists.

THE FUTURE

We may see the use of Plasma exchange for critically ill patients increase as the pandemic continues. It is not a treatment option available for everyone, as it requires intravenous access and careful monitoring in a controlled setting. But it also needs donation from people who have recovered from COVID and have suitable antibodies. So whilst it might not be a magic pill that everyone expects to cure COVID, it might be the difference between life and death for those that need it most.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, UK, Chief Product Officer, Second Medic Inc

www.secondmedic.com

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How Weekly Onsite Yoga Benefits Corporate Wellness: A Preventive Approach to Workplace Health

Corporate wellness programs are evolving rapidly. Traditional initiatives such as annual health checkups and gym memberships are no longer sufficient to address modern workplace health challenges. Rising stress levels, sedentary routines and burnout have pushed organisations to adopt preventive, sustainable wellness strategies. One of the most effective among these is weekly onsite yoga.

Understanding how onsite yoga weekly benefits corporate wellness highlights why this ancient practice has become a modern workplace necessity. Yoga addresses both physical and mental health, making it uniquely suited for today’s high-pressure corporate environments.

Why Corporate Wellness Needs Preventive Solutions

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and workplace health reports, lifestyle-related disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and mental health conditions are increasingly affecting working professionals.

Key workplace health challenges include:

prolonged sitting
poor posture
chronic stress
sleep disturbances
reduced physical activity

Preventive interventions are essential to reverse these trends before they result in chronic disease and productivity loss.

What Is Weekly Onsite Yoga?

Weekly onsite yoga involves structured yoga sessions conducted at the workplace by trained instructors. These sessions typically include:

stretching and mobility exercises
breathing techniques
simple yoga postures
relaxation and mindfulness practices

Sessions are designed to be inclusive, requiring no prior yoga experience.

Why Weekly Frequency Matters

Consistency is the foundation of wellness.

Weekly yoga sessions:

reinforce healthy habits
prevent accumulation of stress
support gradual physical improvement
encourage long-term participation

Unlike one-time workshops, weekly programs deliver sustained impact.

Physical Health Benefits of Onsite Yoga

Reduces Musculoskeletal Problems

Desk-based work often leads to back pain, neck stiffness and joint discomfort. Yoga improves:

posture
flexibility
muscle strength

This reduces work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Improves Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Regular yoga practice supports:

blood pressure regulation
improved circulation
better glucose control

WHO recognises yoga and similar mind-body practices as beneficial for lifestyle disease prevention.

Enhances Energy Levels

Yoga improves oxygenation and circulation, reducing fatigue and mid-day energy crashes.

Mental Health Benefits in the Workplace

Reduces Stress and Burnout

Yoga lowers cortisol levels and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation.

This helps employees:

manage deadlines calmly
recover from mental fatigue
reduce anxiety

Improves Focus and Cognitive Performance

Breathing and mindfulness practices improve:

attention span
mental clarity
decision-making

Better focus directly translates into improved productivity.

Supports Emotional Wellbeing

Regular yoga enhances emotional regulation, reducing irritability and improving workplace relationships.

Impact on Productivity and Performance

Healthy employees perform better.

Weekly onsite yoga contributes to:

reduced absenteeism
fewer stress-related sick days
improved work engagement
sustained productivity

EY-FICCI corporate wellness studies show that preventive wellness programs deliver measurable performance benefits.

Role in Building a Wellness-Oriented Culture

Onsite yoga sends a strong message that employee wellbeing is a priority.

It helps organisations:

foster trust and engagement
encourage work-life balance
create a supportive environment

Wellness culture improves retention and employer branding.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

One of yoga’s biggest strengths is adaptability.

Onsite yoga:

suits all age groups
accommodates different fitness levels
requires minimal equipment
can be modified for health conditions

This inclusivity ensures broad participation.

Cost-Effectiveness and ROI

Compared to advanced medical interventions, onsite yoga is:

low-cost
scalable
preventive rather than reactive

By reducing long-term healthcare costs, yoga delivers high return on investment for employers.

Yoga as Part of Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare focuses on reducing risk factors before disease develops.

Weekly onsite yoga supports prevention by:

lowering stress-related disease risk
improving metabolic health
encouraging active lifestyles
supporting mental resilience

NITI Aayog recognises workplace wellness as a key lever for national health improvement.

Integration with Corporate Wellness Programs

Onsite yoga works best when integrated with:

preventive health checkups
stress management initiatives
nutrition education
digital health tracking

Integrated programs deliver stronger outcomes than isolated activities.

Overcoming Common Barriers

Some organisations hesitate due to:

time constraints
perceived lack of interest
space concerns

However, short, well-structured sessions (30–45 minutes) overcome these challenges effectively.

Long-Term Impact on Organisations

Organisations that adopt weekly onsite yoga observe:

healthier workforce
reduced burnout
improved morale
better long-term healthcare outcomes

Lancet workplace health studies show that consistent mind-body interventions yield benefits within 6–12 months.

Conclusion

Understanding how onsite yoga weekly benefits corporate wellness reveals why it is more than a fitness activity—it is a preventive health strategy. By addressing physical strain, mental stress and lifestyle risks, weekly onsite yoga supports healthier employees, stronger productivity and sustainable wellness culture. In today’s demanding corporate environment, investing in regular yoga sessions is an investment in long-term organisational resilience and success.

References

ICMR – Workplace Health and Lifestyle Disease Reports
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) – Adult Health and Stress Indicators
NITI Aayog – Preventive Healthcare and Workplace Wellness Strategy
WHO – Physical Activity, Yoga and Mental Health Guideline
Lancet – Mind-Body Interventions and Workplace Health Outcomes
EY-FICCI – Corporate Wellness and Productivity Report
Statista – Corporate Wellness Program Trends India

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