01 Nov Stem Cells Help Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a condition that oftentimes goes unnoticed or undiagnosed.  Therefore, it is difficult to tell exactly how many people in the United States suffer from the condition.  It is thought that 1 in every 500 people in the United States is suffering from the condition.  Cardiomyopathy is a condition that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood properly.  It is also known as an enlarged heart.  Treatment exists to ease symptoms.  However, there is no cure for cardiomyopathy.  It is the hope of many professionals that stem cell therapy may be the way of the future for those suffering from cardiomyopathy.

There are a variety of different types of cardiomyopathy.  However, regardless of the type, all end in an enlarged heart unable to pump blood properly to the rest of the body.  The heart is the one muscle in the body that is responsible for supplying blood to the rest of the body, including the brain.  When this function is compromised, it can greatly affect a person’s overall health in a negative way.  People can develop cardiomyopathy by inheriting it from their genetics or acquiring it as a result of other diseases and conditions.

People who are lucky are diagnosed with cardiomyopathy early on in the disease and are able to begin treatment immediately.  However, there are many people, specifically children, who go undiagnosed for long periods of time.  As a result, the condition can cause damage that is largely unknown until later in life.  The main forms of treatment include lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and exercising, medication, surgery, implanted devices, and various other non-surgical procedures.  While treatments help with symptoms and can prevent the condition from getting worse, they are rarely able to take the heart back to being completely healthy and normal.

As stem cells have become more popular, and their effectiveness has been seen over a wide variety of ailments, they have been tested for use on patients suffering from cardiomyopathy.  Fortunately, the ability of stem cells to harness the body’s own healing power has seen remarkable results for patients suffering from cardiomyopathy.  Not only can these stem cells help restore damaged heart muscle, but they are significantly less risky than other forms of treatment such as surgery and medication.  While there is still research that needs to be done for stem cells, what we do know is that they help patients suffering from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy may not seem like a big deal in patients who do not show symptoms.  However, it can have damaging and negatively lasting effects on the body, especially as people age.  While lifestyle changes can greatly help slow the worsening of the condition, they cannot regenerate new heart tissue.  This is also true of surgery and medication.  Stem cell therapy provides new hope to patients suffering from cardiomyopathy.  Not only can stem cell therapy help to slow the progression of the condition, but it can even help to replenish damaged heart tissue, thus giving hope to patients that one day they may have a normal working heart again.