Stem cells are defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as:
“A simple cell in the body that is able to develop into any one of various kinds of cell (such as blood cells, skin cells, etc.)”
It was in the 1800s when the research first began, when it was discovered that these cells could be grown in laboratories to become other kinds of tissue cells. This eventually led to the realization, in the early 1900s, that even blood cells could be created from them. Read the history of stem cell research here
From there, many leaps in this field have been made with the successful transplant of cells and the regrowth of damaged tissue ─ even allowing an entire animal to be grown! Many of these advances seem like science fiction to most people. Other successes have ranged from: bone marrow transplants, corneal transplants, and the repairing of damaged cartilage; but that is far from all it has done, or what it is truly capable of.
Using Stem Cell Therapy for the Heart Repair
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world. It is a fact that most of us are aware of, and a fact that many of us may fear. If you are born with a weak heart, it is hard to know what will finally push it to its breaking point. A heart attack or stroke is known to strike at any moment, adding to the apprehension that some may feel. But with the research being poured into stem cell therapy for the heart repair and the hope that it brings, living with a damaged heart may one day soon be a thing of the past.
Each year brings more discoveries and advancements from stem cell therapy research. With stories of successful transplants of stem cells into the hearts of mice that regrow damaged muscle tissue, human participants are slowly on the ride and lives that would have normally been lost, are saved. With the problems that come by searching for viable hearts for complete transplants, having the ability to repair hearts is something that we cannot afford to turn away from.
To get a better understanding of how stem cell therapy for the heart repair works, it is best to learn from the experts themselves. Here is a link to the Cedars-Sinai Cardiac Stem Cell Research webpage where they present a significant amount of information: Cardiac Stem Cell Research
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