Conditions
Conditions
- Cancer prevention
- Cancer treatment
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Autoimmune diseases
- Type 1 diabetes
- Lupus
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Crohn's disease
- Inflammatory conditions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
- Infectious diseases
- Hepatitis B and C
- HIV
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Heart failure
- Ischemic heart disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Neurological disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Parkinson's disease
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Autism
- Skin and soft tissue conditions
- Anti-Aging
- Burns and wounds
- Skin ulcers
- Acne scars
- Hair loss
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Vitiligo
- Hyperpigmentation
- Metabolic disorders
- Obesity
- Diabetes Type 2
- Eye disorders
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal diseases
- Organ damage
- Liver cirrhosis
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Renal failure
- Limb ischemia
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic headaches
- Inherited disorders
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Psychiatric conditions
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Reproductive health
- Male and female infertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Menopause
Heart Disease
Understanding Heart Disease
As the years go by, our heart muscles endure the wear and tear of life, which can eventually lead to heart disease. This deterioration isn’t solely the result of congenital defects; rather, heart cells may gradually weaken due to factors such as heart attacks, substance abuse, underlying medical conditions, and various other influences. Unfortunately, the human heart lacks the natural ability to regenerate itself. Once damage occurs, the disease tends to progress, hampering the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood throughout the body. This can manifest in symptoms like high blood pressure and insufficient oxygen supply to tissues and organs.
In an attempt to compensate, the heart may strain by stretching its walls or working harder, exacerbating existing problems. Existing treatments for heart disease range from whole or partial heart transplants to the use of blood-thinning medications and other drugs. These approaches either aim to entirely replace damaged tissue or make it easier for a compromised heart to function. However, these treatments can be prohibitively costly and time-consuming, potentially diminishing a patient’s overall quality of life.
Unlocking Hope with Stem Cells
Stem cells possess a unique characteristic – the ability to transform into any type of cell within the body, a process known as “differentiation.” When introduced into a patient’s body, these cells migrate to damaged or deceased tissue, initiating a process of repair and regeneration. This groundbreaking approach is why modern medicine has turned to stem cell therapy for various conditions. For example, a study published in The Lancet involved treating heart attack patients with stem cells harvested from their own hearts. A year post-procedure, scar tissue had significantly decreased by 50%.
Currently, three distinct strategies are under investigation for heart disease treatment using stem cells. The first method entails extracting stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow and directly transplanting them into the heart via a catheter. The second approach involves utilizing donated stem cells to create patches or grafts, which can be applied to damaged areas, stimulating healing within the underlying tissue. Lastly, researchers are exploring the possibility of reprogramming the patient’s own heart cells into stem cells capable of promoting healing, thus negating the need for a cell transplant.
