19 Aug 5 Facts About Stem Cells
Stem cells have very quickly made their way into the mainstream media after their discovery. Stem cells not only can help a variety of different people suffering from a plethora of ailments. But, they can do so without a significant amount of side effects. Stem cell discoveries seem to be on the front page of every newspaper and are constantly in the news. With so much information flying around about stem cells, it is important to understand a few basic facts about these amazing cells.
1. There are different types of stem cells.
Many times, stem cells are referred to as a single thing. However, three main different types of stem cells exist. These are embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are found before birth and can turn into any kind of cell in the body. They are found in amounts much greater than they are in adults. Adult stem cells are found in the body but are much less in number than embryonic stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult stem cells that have been reprogrammed to be embryonic-like.
2. Stem cells are found all over the adult body.
Many people assume stem cells are only found in bone marrow or the blood because that is most talked about. However, adult stem cells can be found all over. This includes the gut, brain, heart, skin, teeth, liver, and even skeletal muscle.
3. Some stem cells can only differentiate into certain kinds of tissue.
Oftentimes, stem cells are touted as a miracle cell that can turn into any kind of cell in the body. This is only true for embryonic cells or induced pluripotent cells. However, not all stem cells have this ability. Adult stem cells taken from certain parts of the body can only turn into a few different types of cells. For example, stem cells taken from bone marrow are called hematopoietic stem cells and can only make blood-related cells.
4. There are very few complications associated with stem cell therapy.
One of the reasons stem cells have grown in popularity is because of their low-risk profile. Stem cells, especially those taken directly from the patient they are going to be used on, pose very little risk of complications. In most cases, the most dangerous risk is an infection due to the injection procedure, not the stem cells themselves. It is very rare to have a therapy that works so well with so little risks.
5. Stem cell therapy works.
There has been a lot of debate over whether or not stem cell therapy is effective. It is hard for some people to believe that taking something found naturally within our bodies and injecting it into ourselves could have such positive results. However, there are countless testimonials from patients who have tried every other treatment in the book and finally found relief from stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy works, it poses very few risks to the patient, and it is here to stay.
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