Stem cell research is a facet of the healthcare field that has been steadily advancing over the past few decades. Its implementation has helped countless patients across the world recover from a variety of ailments. There is no telling how many diseases stem cell research will be able to cure in the future; hopefully, it will be most of them. There are multiple factors depending on stem cell growth including overall patient health, type of ailment, and type of stem cell. It’s always important to learn more about healthy living habits. Let’s take a quick look at 3 different ways stem cells are improving the treatment of certain diseases and conditions.
Replace Damaged Neurons
First things first: how do stem cells work? Stem cells are harvested from adult tissue (such as bone marrow) and separated into a specific type of cell depending on its future purpose. The specialized stem cells are then introduced to the affected area of the body. The stem cells begin to multiply and transform to the surrounding cells, replacing damaged cells with new ones. These cells could include neurons — cells that deal with the nervous system. Spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, and Parkinson’s disease are all ailments that could be alleviated by stem cell implementation. Further improvements to stem cell implementation could yield significant results.
Back Pain
One of the most common conditions ailing patients — other than the common cold — back pain is a condition that affects over fifteen million people a year, with totaled expenses exceeding twelve billion dollars a year. Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD), herniated discs, lumbar back pain, and facet joint dysfunction are common back ailments that stem cell implementation is seeking to correct. Read more about stem cell implementation and therapy for back pain from the healthcare experts at ThriveMD.
Blood Cancers
Leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphomas are different types of blood cancer that affect the body’s bone marrow — by disrupting key functions and corrupting healthy cells within. Other cancers can spread to the body’s bone marrow as well. Stem cell implementation into the bone marrow can eliminate cancer cells and can promote the growth of healthy cells to replace the diseased ones. Stem cell treatment is an important treatment option in regards to blood and bone marrow cancer variants. This can either be from donor stem cells implemented to replace the damaged stem cells or the regrowth of chemo-treated cells that need to be replaced.