In an article published on the health website LiveWell, Dr. Alisa Hideg explains the reasons why umbilical cord blood may be worth banking.

Dr Hideg explains why stem cells are very powerful components of the human body — they have the ability to create other types of cells. Some of stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are capable of turning into a number of other types of cells and have been the focus of a great deal of research.

The article goes on to explain that some parents are choosing to preserve their child’s cord blood as a form of health insurance. Dr Hideg explains that the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are already being used to treat 80 conditions including cancer, blood disorders, metabolic disorders and autoimmune disorders.

The article reports that most stem cell transplantations are between siblings (60%) with the remainder being autologous transplantations (where a person receives their own stem cells).

New research is also leading to some potential new treatments for many diseases. Dr Hideg references the example of a family saving the umbilical cord blood of their children in the hope that the stem cells may be used to treat their father’s type 1 diabetes. Some of the other diseases that may be potentially cured with stem cells are  liver fibrosis, lung cancer, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cartilage injuries.

Dr Hideg recommends that parents who decide to preserve their child’s cord blood make arrangements well ahead of delivery date.

The article notes how simple the actual collection is. After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The cord blood is then drawn out and sent to a laboratory to be processed.  The procedure does not interfere with the care of you or your baby and the stem cells may someday save a life.

Source: House Call: Umbilical cord blood may be worth banking

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