by Stemedix | Nov 29, 2022 | COPD
Those afflicted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) struggle with persistent respiratory concerns stemming from airflow blockage and lung inflammation. Here we will discuss regenerative Medicine for COPD.
The conditions that contribute to COPD, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, can cause excess mucus production, frequent coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
While treatments including lifestyle changes, medication, therapies, and bronchodilators can slow the disease’s progression and reduce the intensity of its symptoms, there’s no cure for the damage that COPD inflicts on the lungs.
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
While traditional medicine often focuses on alleviating pain and controlling disease and injury symptoms, regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, focuses on each condition’s root cause.
Regenerative therapies aim to repair and restore damaged or lost tissue, typically by harnessing the body’s natural healing response.
Which Regenerative Medicine Treatments Can Benefit COPD Patients?
COPD causes less air to flow into the airways due to the following changes:
- The lungs’ airways and air sacs lose their elasticity
- The walls of the air sacs in the lungs are destroyed
- Airway walls become thick, irritated, swollen, and inflamed
- Mucus production increases, clogging the airways and reducing airflow
Regenerative treatments are designed to reverse these changes and restore lung health. The most studied and effective regenerative medicine methodologies for COPD are stem cell therapy and exosome therapy.
Stem Cell Treatments for COPD
Stem cell therapy extracts dormant stem cells from bone marrow or adipose tissue and reintroduces those cells into damaged areas that need repair and restoration.
Since stem cells are the body’s only cells capable of differentiating into specialized cells, like brain or lung cells, they offer a versatile option to heal and replace diseased or damaged tissue.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation properties that can reduce airway obstruction. At the same time, they work to repair and replace the alveolar epithelial cells, which exchange the gases and air in the lungs. Damaged alveolar cells diminish the resiliency of the lungs’ air sacs and airways.
Exosome Therapy for COPD
Exosomes are tiny, membrane-wrapped sacs released by healthy cells. They share and transfer information with other cells in the body. Early studies show that exosomes derived from stem cells help heal tissue.
In preclinical studies, MSC-derived exosomes reduced inflammation, improved breathing challenges, increased stamina, and enhanced oxygen circulation. Exosome therapy can potentially improve COPD and other pulmonary conditions, including acute respiratory lung distress and post-COVID complications.
Regenerative medicine treatments can open the door to restoring the health of patients with COPD and other lung conditions. As new research continues to show the healing benefits of these treatments, many patients are already experiencing improved health. Contact us today to learn more about Regenerative Medicine for COPD!
by Stemedix | Nov 21, 2022 | Stem Cell Therapy, Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, is an alternative medicine that seeks to replace damaged tissue and/or organs. Usually, this damage is a result of disease, congenital issues, or trauma. Regenerative therapies are distinct from clinical strategies. Typically, clinical strategies primarily focus on treating the symptoms of an issue. Regenerative therapies, on the other hand, seek to address the issue itself. Here we will discuss Regenerative Medicine for ankle pain.
In recent years and based on research, stem cell therapy has become a more often explored option either in conjunction with traditional medicine or if options have been exhausted. It can be used to help manage and potentially provide a healing cascade for joint pain associated with certain injuries and illnesses.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are raw materials in the body. They’re the cells from which other specialized cells are generated. Stem cells will divide to form more cells, which are called daughter cells. Daughter cells transform into either new stem cells or specialized cells that perform a more specific function. Some of these specialized cells include:
- Brain cells
- Blood cells
- Bone cells
- Heart muscle cells
Mesenchymal stem cells are fascinating because no other cell in the human body has the ability to generate completely new cell types.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy uses stem cells to help repair injured, dysfunctional, or diseased tissue. Using stem cells in medicine can help support your body’s ability to heal and regenerate itself while reducing pain.
Common Causes of Ankle Pain
Some common injuries associated with ankle pain include:
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Achilles tendinitis
- Avulsion fracture
Sometimes, ankle pain can happen without an injury, as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, and lupus.
Stem Cell Therapy for Ankle Pain
Since stem cell therapy has dual functions (i.e., the healing function and the pain relief function), stem cell therapy can manage ankle pain that is or isn’t associated with injuries.
Patients’ response to therapy may vary on when they see potential improvements, but generally they may experience some pain relief after around three weeks post-treatment. This improvement will gradually continue over the course of months or years.
Benefits of Regenerative Medicine
Depending on the degree of injury, stem cells have the ability to help regenerate the injured or diseased tissues. For patients who want to avoid invasive surgeries or pain medications to address their musculoskeletal injury, stem cell therapy may be an option to explore. This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for Orthopedic also known as Orthopedic Stem cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions. If you want to learn more about Regenerative Medicine for ankle pain, contact us today at Stemedix.
by admin | Nov 18, 2022 | Stem Cell Therapy, Alzheimer’s Disease, Stem Cell Research
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 50%-70% of dementia cases worldwide. Characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment, AD is progressive, debilitating, and fatal. In addition, it’s estimated that new cases of AD around the globe are occurring at a staggering rate of 20 per minute with an established effective treatment yet to be discovered.
To date, research has demonstrated an advanced understanding of AD’s development and devastating – and eventually fatal – outcomes, but has only been able to identify drugs that intervene too late in the progression of the condition.
Considering that stem cells have a detailed and documented record of their ability of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and transformation into different types of central nervous system neurons and glial cells and that they have been successful in AD animal models, it is believed that stem cells have the potential to treat patients with AD.
In reviewing the progress of stem cells as a potential therapeutic treatment for AD, Liu et al. call for new treatments, including the removal of toxic deposits and the ability to replace lost neurons to be developed and as a way to stimulate neural precursors, prevent nerve death, and enhance structural neural plasticity. The authors also review the pathophysiology of AD and the application prospect of related stem cells based on specific cell types.
Liu et al. point out that, although AD models using animal research have been demonstrated to be successful, animal research is difficult to translate into human trials, and, to date, none have been able to replicate the complex environment observed in the human brain. Considering this, the authors conclude that it is challenging, at best, to characterize the beneficial effects of stem cells in AD based solely on previously conducted animal models.
As a result of this review, the authors also conclude that while stem cells used in AD and animal models have achieved certain results, there are still several factors that require consideration. Among these factors is the fact that this type of stem cell therapy requires neurosurgical procedure and immunosuppression which contributes to ongoing concerns related to controlling the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, the targeting of molecular markers, and the development of cell delivery systems.
The authors acknowledge that progression in the study of stem cells in AD applications should be made more efficient because of recent technological advances in stem cells, specifically using hydrogels, nano-technology, and light therapies to produce more efficient delivery of treatment.
While these advances should help, Liu et al. also point out that a number of obstacles, including uncertainty about the amyloid hypothesis, differing objectives related to preventing progression vs symptomatic treatment, and demonstrating the relationship between stem cell treatment and complete AD cure, still need to be addressed.
Considering the findings of this review, the authors conclude that stem cell therapy for AD carries enormous promise, but the successful application will most likely be dependent upon consistent early diagnosis of the condition in order to prevent further brain cell deterioration and will likely be combined with an administration of existing medication as a way to most effectively treat and/or prevent AD.
Source: Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for autoimmune diseases.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30623280/.
by admin | Nov 9, 2022 | Health Awareness
Inflammation is your body’s response to injuries, damage, and certain health conditions. If something is wrong with a certain part of your body, you will likely experience some inflammation.
Usually, inflammation is a positive sign that you are healing and recovering. However, excessive inflammation can cause long-term health problems. Starting an anti-inflammatory diet is key to fighting off problematic health conditions.
Why Inflammation Matters
Without inflammation, your body would not be able to repair itself when it needs to. But with too much inflammation, you are at risk for chronic health problems. Your tissues and cells can become damaged from too much inflammation over time.
Your diet can add to or alleviate the inflammation you experience in your body. If you suffer from an inflammatory disorder, it is even more important to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to control your symptoms.
Some common inflammatory disorders include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), autoimmune diseases, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, consider an anti-inflammatory diet to feel better and improve your overall well-being.
Foods That Fight Inflammation
Certain foods have chemical compounds that naturally modulate your body’s inflammatory responses. To fight against excessive inflammation, try adding some anti-inflammatory foods to your weekly menu. Incorporating even a few of these foods could make a difference in your overall health.
Try adding these foods and spices to your diet:
- Turmeric
- Peppers
- Fish
- Olive oil
- Dark chocolate
- Nuts
- Leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.)
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Turkey
Anti-inflammatory foods will help you maintain your health and prevent inflammation from damaging your healthy cells and tissues. With less inflammation in your body, you will likely feel a lot better.
Foods to Avoid
There are plenty of delicious, healthy foods that combat inflammation. Unfortunately, there are a few ingredients to avoid as well. Inflammatory ingredients and foods can give you more problems and worsen your symptoms.
Avoid the following ingredients to control inflammation:
- Refined sugars
- Artificial sweeteners
- Simple carbohydrates
- Processed meats
- Sodas
- Sweets, pastries, and breads
- Fried food
- Highly processed cheeses
These foods can be harmful to your health. Avoid them, when possible, to prevent and treat inflammation.
Discover comprehensive testing to see where you are insufficient and deficient to optimize your health. For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by Stemedix | Nov 7, 2022 | Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy
Chronic pain can develop anywhere in the body. It can develop from conditions like arthritis, result from a traumatic injury, or serve as an ongoing symptom of diseases such as cancer or neuropathic pain from diabetes. Often, patients suffering from chronic pain feel their only options for relief are ongoing medications to mask their symptoms or surgery, like a knee replacement to treat chronic knee pain. However, regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, offers a new option for chronic pain patients to explore that may be especially beneficial for those hoping to avoid surgery. Here we will break down why you should choose regenerative medicine over surgery.
Stem Cell Treatments Have Lower Risks than Surgery
You may want to avoid surgery for many reasons, and the risks of anesthesia and the potential for complications with large incisions are essential factors to consider. Stem cell therapy does not require general anesthesia, and since the process only requires injections, not incisions, there are no surgical wounds or scars.
If you’ve had an adverse reaction to anesthesia or possess risk factors for experiencing a negative response, such as age or a coexisting condition, stem cell therapy offers a non-surgical alternative to finding relief.
Stem Cell Treatments Require Minimal Downtime
Suppose that you lead an active, busy lifestyle. In that case, you probably don’t have time for an extended recovery period, especially when that recovery time keeps you from essential activities like driving or walking.
While most surgeries to alleviate chronic pain require extensive downtime, patients who choose stem cell treatments typically return to work or daily activities within a few days. Although stem cells do take time to heal damaged tissues, many patients begin to experience pain relief within two to three weeks.
Surgery Doesn’t Guarantee Pain Relief
When your chronic pain leads you to the point where you’re willing to undergo surgery, you want to know that the preparation, procedure, downtime, and expense will alleviate your pain. Unfortunately, however, that’s not always the case.
A 2018 study showed that 20% of those who undergo a total knee replacement still live with chronic knee pain. In addition, another study revealed that up to 58% of patients who undergo hip replacement surgery continue to endure persistent pain.
Stem Cell Treatments Are Effective and Non-Invasive
It can be hard to believe that stem cell injections can potentially offer similar, if not better, results than surgery. However, research following patients for two years after their stem cell treatments found all participant groups, regardless of age or BMI, experienced significant pain improvement. Patients who feel surgery is their only option to alleviate chronic pain should ask their doctor about the benefits of pursuing stem cell therapy. If surgery is unavoidable, stem cell therapy can also help post-surgery to help improve healing time and reduce pain. If you would like to choose regenerative medicine over surgery contact Stemedix today!
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