Stem Cell Therapy 101: What Is It and How Does It Work?

stem cell therapy

There is an extensive list of diseases and conditions that don’t have cures around the world. Scientists and doctors alike are breaking their backs to solve this problem. After years or even decades of research, they’ve stumbled upon stem cell therapy.

Stem cells are the revolutionary cure-all solution for various health problems. But there is still a lot we don’t know about them. The unexplored territory is also common when it comes to this type of treatment.

Because of this, stem cell therapy is being criticized outside the health community. Before forming your own opinions on the matter, read this article first.

1. What Are Stem Cells?

They are a special kind of cells that are capable of turning into other different types of cells. They are versatile enough to turn into cells like those of muscle, heart, and brain cells.

They can function like the different types of cells in the body. To give an example, they can work like red blood cells which transport the oxygen through the arteries.

Doctors hope to use stem cell therapy to help find treatment on incurable diseases.

2. Where Does It Come From?

Here are the different types of stem cells and where can you get them.

Embryonic stem cells came from, you guessed it, from embryos or unborn offspring. These develop in the early stages after fertilization. They are usually only a few days old, not long enough to consider as a fetus.

Adult stem cells came from developed tissues from the brain and bone marrow. They are not as versatile as the previous cells because they can only turn into certain types of cells. Either way, these are still useful in other types of treatments.

These cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells are easier to produce. Adult cells modified to behave more like the embryotic ones. Through genetic programming, they alter the very genes of regular human cells.

Because of the limitations of adult stem cells, doctors are looking for ways to improve them. They hope to use them as an alternative treatment to embryotic stem cells.

3. What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy can repair any damaged cells and tissues in your body. After making the stem cells from a lab, the doctor injects them into the body part that needs repairing.

The procedure is also called regenerative medicine because of how it heals the body. It repairs the cells to fight off symptoms and other harmful substances from the diseases. There are a lot of patients who have received the treatment to improve their condition.

4. What Does Stem Cell Therapy Treat?

Not only can stem cells repair dysfunctional cells, but stem cell therapy can also help with pain. They help by reducing and minimizing inflammation. By doing this, you need less recovery time at the hospital.

As we mentioned earlier, stem cells can turn into different types of cells, depending on what the patient needs. It means doctors can also create organs and other body parts using the modified cells. There is always a shortage of donors so this is a great alternative to make compatible organs.

The list of proven and approved types of stem cell treatments is still short as of the moment. But the current stem cell treatments available work amazingly. They fight against different health diseases and conditions to amazing results.

Researchers have even discovered ways leading to new treatments for placental problems.

With stem cell therapy, there’s no visible limit to the possible cures for all types of health conditions. There are still ongoing researches about stem cells. This continues to further and improve this particular treatment.

5. Can You Use Your Own Cells?

You might think at first that using your own stem cells prevents your immune system from malfunctioning. Although that would be correct in theory, there are other factors that you need to consider when it comes to using your own cells.

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that modifying your cells has potential health risks. This could change the molecular structure which defines bodily functions. It means the cells might not work as intended and lead to even worse health problems.

Additionally, the way stem-cells are re-introduced into the patient’s body is important.

There is always a margin of error when doctors or nurses insert cells. They might make errors and inject the cells in areas where they don’t belong. The modified cells might cause the immune system to reject the ‘foreign particles.’

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the competency of the clinics and doctors who did the treatments.

6. Are Any Stem Cells Treatments Unproven?

Yes, many kinds of stem cells treatment need more research and testing. But that doesn’t stop malicious corporations from exploiting desperate patients. There are also reports of malicious corporations that offer unapproved stem cell products.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had begun to crack down on the illegal use of these treatments. They warn the public about the health risks of unproven stem cell therapies. If these treatments aren’t addressed, people who avail of them might suffer unfairly.

Please consult with your family doctor or a specialist first before trying any experimental treatment. They are best equipped to discuss and separate the facts from the lies.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

There are several stem cell therapy facts you should know about! We hope we were able to provide good insights whether they are the right treatment for you. In any case, keep aware of new health trends and stay safe.

Do you still have questions about this particular topic? Be sure to read more of our health articles for more information on stem cell therapy and other fitness guides!

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