Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Disease - Stem Cell Therapy

Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Disease Abroad

Heart disease includes a range of conditions that affect the heart, among which we can mention blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.

Types of heart disease

There are various types of heart disease, most of them developing over the course of time and affecting people later in life. Here are the most common types of heart diseases:

• Coronary Artery Disease
• Silent Ischemia
• Angina
• Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
• Heart Failure
• Arrhythmia
• Peripheral Arterial Disease

Symptoms of heart disease

Symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels (atherosclerotic disease)

• Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back

Heart disease symptoms caused by abnormal heartbeats (heart arrhythmias)

• Fluttering in your chest
• Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Fainting (syncope) or near fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart defects

• Pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis)
• Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes
• In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain
• Easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity
• Easily tiring during exercise or activity
• Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet

Heart disease symptoms caused by weak heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy)

• Breathlessness with exertion or at rest
• Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
• Fatigue
• Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering
• Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart infections

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or fatigue
• Swelling in your legs or abdomen
• Changes in your heart rhythm
• Dry or persistent cough
• Skin rashes or unusual spots

Heart disease symptoms caused by valvular heart disease

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Chest pain
• Fainting (syncope)

Causes of heart disease

• Heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects)
• Coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol or caffeine
• Drug abuse
• Stress
• Some over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies
• Valvular heart disease

Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Disease

With respect to the heart, stem cells have the ability to not only home into the damaged areas but also to initiate a cascade of biological events which both culminate in healing of the heart muscle.

The stem cells have the potential to replace countless cells of the body, heart tissue included. These stem cells may heal the body by replacing the ones that are plagued with disease, regenerating new cells, and suppressing the immune system's macrophage response which engulf and digest the dying cells of the heart. A licensed physician administers the stem cells via intravenous and intramuscular injections over the course of a few days.

Both embryonic stem cells and mature cells that are manipulated back to a stem cell state can be harnessed to create new heart cells. The only drawback is that the heart cells made with stem cells resemble the heart cells of an infant, rather than adult heart cells. To function in adult hearts, the new heart cells must mature and then be able to survive within the constantly beating environment of the heart.

The cost of Stem Cell Treatments

As with all other types of stem cell treatments, there is no singular price available. The average price for a treatment is somewhere around $10,000, although the prices can vary from $2,000 to $20,000. As stem cell treatment is still a budding field, there is no standardization of prices. Instead, they vary on a clinic to clinic basis. In places where the costs of living and medical expenses are lower, it might be possible to find cheaper therapies.

Choosing the right clinic and treatment 

Informing yourself about the particular treatment that you have in mind is crucial for any therapy, not just stem cell ones. Find out who the doctor who performs the therapy is and check as much as you can about him/her. The main thing to look for is whether they have had any experience with stem cell treatments before, and specifically with stem cell treatments for heart disease. Also, read up on the patient testimonials and, if possible, get in contact with someone who has already gone through this procedure. This will give you a clearer picture of whether or not you should choose a particular clinic and a particular doctor. 

If you are already suffering from a heart disease and want to know how stem cell therapy can help you, feel free to contact us and find out more.