Why Are Stem Cells So Popular?

Why Are Stem Cells So Popular?

There is no doubt that stem cell therapy has gained popularity over recent years.  There are more clinical trials focused on the potential abilities of stem cell therapy, and there is more talk of stem cell therapy in the general public.  While many people have heard the term “stem cells” being thrown around by newsrooms and friends, few people understand exactly why stem cells have become so popular in recent years.  While stem cells are not fully understood, what we do know about them shows they have an untapped potential for helping those suffering from various ailments.

Stem cells started off as a very controversial topic for a variety of reasons.  First off, the idea of being able to heal various ailments using cells already present within our bodies seemed too good to be true.  But, even more, controversial were the ethics behind the usage of stem cells.  This is because when stem cell research first began, researchers were taking stem cells from embryos.  This was controversial because it required the embryo to be destroyed, thus destroying life in the eyes of some people.  However, the controversial ethical issues are rarely talked about anymore because embryos are no longer used for stem cell therapy.  Since the initial discovery of stem cells, scientists have found other methods of deriving stem cells that do not require the use of an embryo.

One of the biggest reasons stem cells are so popular is because they have lead to the development of regenerative medicine.  Regenerative medicine is a field dedicated to a better understanding of how we can harness the body’s healing power to address the root cause of various ailments.  In many forms of medicine, treatments are aimed at addressing the symptoms, not necessarily the underlying problem.  For example, in diabetes, medicines work to keep the blood sugar levels in check but do not address why they get out of check in the first place.  With arthritis, treatment is aimed at lessening pain, but not rebuilding the cushion present in joints that wear away over time due to age.  For many neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, medications are used to lessen the physical symptoms but do not address the underlying neurological issues.  In many cases, the current treatments physicians rely on are inadequate.

Fortunately, stem cells have revolutionized how we look at many different ailments.  Stem cells can be used for research purposes to better understand how ailments such as cancer, dementia, and multiple sclerosis form in the first place.  In addition, stem cells can help treat various elements at their core.  The ability of stem cells to replace damaged cells with healthy ones is unique when compared with other forms of treatment.  Stem cell therapy also comes with significantly less risk than surgery, prescription medications, and other traditional forms of treatment.  There is still a lot that needs to be researched and understood so we can fully harness the healing power of stem cells.  Regardless, stem cells are gaining popularity in both the medical world and the general public for a good reason.  There is no doubt in the future that stem cells will help people live better quality lives with significantly less risk than current treatment methods.

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