Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a relatively common yet highly debilitating respiratory condition, responsible for nearly 3 million deaths every year. While the exact cause is still uncertain, smoking is widely considered the leading factor behind its development.
COPD occurs when the lungs become damaged, leading to bronchial spasms and an overproduction of mucus that blocks the airways and makes breathing difficult. The alveoli, which are tiny air sacs responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, also lose their elasticity and become less effective. This causes severe breathing issues and often leads to a slow decline in overall lung function.
Although current treatments can ease symptoms and gradually improve quality of life, there is still no known cure. In a major breakthrough in 2011, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston discovered the presence of stem cells in adult lungs. Until that point, scientists believed adult lungs did not contain stem cells. This finding has opened the door for regenerative medicine and cell therapy to offer new hope for COPD patients.
Big Savings Without Sacrificing Quality
Stem cells are special cells in the body that have three main characteristics:
- They can undergo cell division and regenerate or renew themselves.
- They have the ability to differentiate and adopt the properties of various tissues and structures.
- They can be transplanted into another organism with relative ease.
Stem cells are usually obtained from a four- to five-day-old embryo called a blastocyst. These are often surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures. Stem cells can also be found in adult bodies, although they typically remain dormant and only become active in response to injury or illness.
Because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate, stem cells are being widely studied and used for healing and regenerating damaged tissues.
Stem Cell Therapy for COPD
The discovery of stem cells in the lungs has opened the door to new possibilities for treatment and even a potential cure, for COPD. It is believed that stem cells can differentiate and develop into various parts of the lungs, including the alveoli and small airways. Because of their ability to divide and regenerate, they may also help repair damaged lung tissue and trigger the body’s natural healing processes.
This potential was further explored in animal studies. In one study, mice with surgically damaged lungs were injected with stem cells, which led to the formation of new lung structures. The tissue created by the stem cells worked alongside the mice’s own lung tissue, supporting repair and regeneration.
Since the presence of stem cells in adult lungs was only discovered recently, there is currently no FDA-approved or legally standardized stem cell therapy for COPD. However, ongoing research continues to explore the safety, effectiveness, and real-world potential of using stem cell therapy to treat COPD without major risks.
Aspects of Cell Manipulation with Stem Cell Therapy for COPD
In order to bring about positive and noticeable results, millions of stem cells have to be transplanted. Such a huge amount of stem cells is difficult to generate naturally and so, scientists must manipulate them in some way to produce larger quantities. Physician First Choice has a method of expanding the human cells with its stem cell therapy program in Mexico.
If you or a loved one is suffering from COPD, let Physician First Choice help you with cutting edge stem cell therapy. Physician First Choice is the top stem cell clinic on the West Coast.
Call (888) 988-0515 for more information and scheduling today for stem cell treatment for COPD!
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