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Blog 5 Things You Must Know About Stem Cell Therapy

5 Things You Must Know About Stem Cell Therapy

The world of Stem Cell Therapy has exploded over the past few years. While the topic was originally introduced to the masses with political debates discussing apparent controversial aspects of the procedure, this is no longer the case thankfully.

The haze of the myths and inaccuracies surrounding stem cell therapy have cleared allowing a path for stem cell therapy to grow and become readily available for people whose quality of life will improve tremendously. Today’s stem cell therapy procedure involves utilizing adult stem cells which are found in a patient’s own body. The treatment has shown astounding results for a wide variety of diseases and injuries like Parkinson’s, Liver Disease, Muscular Sclerosis and many more!

#1 Different Stem Cell Variations

All stem cells have the ability to self-renew  and differentiate themselves, which is why they have been able to produce the incredibly regenerative healing in the first place. What most people don’t realize is that stem cells can still vary widely. Certain types of stem cells can and cannot do certain actions in specific circumstances, which is why researchers work to understanding these variations and how each type of stem cell can be effectively used.

To begin, let’s talk about the type of stem cell that caused so much controversy years ago. Embryonic stem cells. These cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of blastocyst. These stem cells can adapt to every type of cell in a fully formed body. This makes embryonic stem cells highly valuable as a resource for studying norma development and testing of drugs and various therapies. Today Human embryonic stem cells can be derived from the excess blastocysts created by in vitro fertilization for assisted reproduction that was no longer needed.

It is important to note that Stem Cell Therapy DOES NOT use Embryonic Stem Cells in the procedure.

The next type of stem cell we’ll discuss are the Tissue-specific stem cells, commonly known as somatic or adult stem cells. These stem cells are used to generate different cells types within the specific tissue or organ where they are located, hence the name “Tissue-specific stem cells”. If you take a stem cell from bone marrow, you can use this to support red and white blood cells and platelets, however it will not be able to generate brain or lung cells.

Tissue- specific cells can also be converted into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells(iPS), meaning you can make tissue-specific cells behave like embryonic stem cells. iPS cells have many similar characteristics as embryonic stem cells but still maintain slight differences. For instance, iPS cells originate from inserting viruses into extra copies of tissue specific cells. Researchers are currently searching for alternative routes for producing these stem cells to make iSP’s a viable resource for medical treatments.

#2 The Stem Cell Therapy Process

The results brought about by stem cell therapy are ultimately brought on by the ability to adapt and promote a reparative response in the treatment ares. The procedure starts by taking adult stem cells from fat found within the patient’s body. Once the fat has been extracted it is then placed in a centrifuge machine to separate the tissue-specific stem cells from the extracted fat. The stem cells are now ready to be injected into a patient’s designated treatment area. The whole procedure should only take around an hour.

Once the procedure is complete, patients may feel slightly sore but should be able to return to work the following day, depending on where the treatment was implemented and the requirements of a patient’s job. Typically people will start feeling noticeable and continuing improvements two weeks after the procedure.

#3 The Necessary Steps For Recovery

The recovery time required for stem cell therapy is miniscule compared to most surgery alternatives, but just because stem cell therapy is a same day in-office procedure doesn’t mean you don’t need to take the proper recovery steps.

Your new stem cells will need special care to ensure they grow and help your body heal itself.  If you live an active lifestyle, take extra caution. Your muscles will be sore from the procedure and muscle spasms are not uncommon. If your body is hurting, avoid or limit the activity as much as possible for the early stages of recovery. If you experience deep aches or grabbing pains, apply heat to the necessary areas.

Stem cells have anti inflammatory benefits which typically result in a dramatic decrease in pain however you need to use caution with activity because the pain may return after the anti inflammatory benefits have worn off. Do not take anti-inflammatory medications, as your body needs to rely on it’s natural inflammatory process to encourage your stem cells.

#4 Stem Cell Therapy Benefits

Stem cell therapy is one of the most cutting-edge and promising procedures available today. The fact that stem cells have been found to reduce chronic pain, heal stubborn injuries, improve functionality and allow patients to return to their normal routines.

Stem cells have also shown promising results when for treating cardiovascular diseases with their ability to simulate repair and growth within blood vessels. Stem cell therapy can also help generalized specialized muscle cells of the heart grow new tissue and decrease the formation of scar tissue which restores blood flow and the capacity of blood pressure.

#5 There are Two Kinds Of Stem Cell Therapy Procedures

Stem cell therapy consists of two different types of procedures. Since tissue-specific stem cells only adapt to certain areas of the body based on the areas they were extracted from, certain therapies require stem cells to be taken  from a patient’s bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue.

The stem cells extracted from bone marrow are considered to one of the most viable sources for tissue-specific stem cells today. These cells are extracted from a patient’s body by directing a needle under x-ray to the bone. Bone marrow is a considered to be the more invasive option and has limitations for the type of stem cells that can be obtained from this method.

Stem cells taken from Adipose tissues are more accessible than bone marrow. A small tissue sample is taken from a patient’s abdomen or thigh. The procedure requires a very small incision, resulting in a short recovery time.

In conclusion 

Lives have been dramatically changed for the better since the mass adoption of stem cell therapy. The future for stem cells is bright. Researchers will continue to innovate and expand the long list of benefits for specific diseases and injuries . The low risk and short recovery time stem cell therapy requires makes the procedure an appealing and effective option for those suffering from spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and a long list of other diseases.