Learn All About Stem Cells

Surely by now, almost all of you have heard about stem cells in the news, read about them in magazines or heard about it from word of mouth and perhaps you have wondered if they are really able to help you or another family member with a serious disease.

You might wonder what stem cells are; where they come from and how do they work so miraculously. In this article, we talk about what stem cells are, how is it beneficial to you and your family, choosing the best cord blood bank and much more.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the body’s raw materials. They are cells from which all other specialized cells are formed. They basically have the ability to develop into many different cell types in the body during the early stages of life and growth.

Plus, they also serve as a soft internal repair system to many tissues in the body, working in such a way to replenish other cells as long as the person is still alive. When a stem cell is divided in the body, the new cell either has the option to remain as a stem cell or change into a more specialized cell such as a muscle cell, red blood cell or a brain cell.

Stem cells differentiate themselves from other cells by two important characteristics. Firstly, is their ability to renew themselves through cell division. Secondly, is their ability to become tissue or organ specific cells with special functions.

Where do stem cells come from?

Embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cells come from embryos that are about three to five days old which are called blastocyst and have about 150 cells. They have the ability to become any type of cell in the body. This versatility allows embryonic stem cells to be used to repair damaged tissues and organs in the body.

Adult stem cells

These stem cells are found in small numbers in most adult tissues such as the bone marrow and fat. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body.

Recently, studies have shown that adult stem cells may be able to generate unrelated types of cells. For instance, bone marrow stem cells can create bine or heart muscle cells. This research has led to more clinical testing and has been found to be very useful.

Why is it important to know about cord blood banking?

Most expectant parents do everything they can to ensure a safe environment for their child. They put little baby gates at the entrance to the kitchen, childproof all their cabinets, make sure all glass things are kept away and all these are done months before the baby is even born.

However, in the recent years parents have been taking it one step further by practicing cord blood banking in hopes that one day this would be able to protect their child from any harm. But is banking really worth it? Here is why you should know about cord blood banking and how it can help in the long run.

Some people, like children or small sized adults with certain diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma and others can be injected with stored stem cells in order to replenish their body with new, healthy cells. These stem cells can also help their bodies recover from treatments like chemotherapy that take a toll on them in the long run.

How long does it take to recover from a stem cell transplant?

Generally, people who get stem cell transplants have quite a high risk of infection because this treatment affects the immune system. This makes it harder for them to fight germs and bacteria that enter the body.

Plus, people whose stem cells come from donors and not a family member would have to take medication to reduce the chances of rejection, which results in higher chances of getting infected because these medicines weaken their immune system.

Being discharged definitely does not mean going back to normal life immediately. Risks of getting infected are still very high even after a successful transplant. It may take up to 3 months before a stem cell transplant patient can go out and start their life routine.

How to choose a cord blood bank?

The best thing to do would be to start your cord blood bank search early. Just like choosing health insurance, choosing the best cord blood bank for you also requires a lot of research and consideration.

Most cord blood banks encourage parents to enroll in the programme by the time the mother is in her second trimester.

Some things to consider before you choose your cord blood bank would be to make sure your midwife knows how to collect cord blood. Be sure to also speak to your family, friends and even healthcare provider for recommendations. It is better to get ideas from people you trust and can really rely on because at the end of the day the last thing you want is for this to go wrong.

One cord blood bank you should consider is CryoCord. CryoCord happens to be a premier stem cell bank in Malaysia that offers excellent service to all their existing and new clients. They have well trained doctors to ensure consistency in effective and efficient collection of samples plus they provide 24 hours hotline service in order to be available to all customers at any time.

Now, that you know all about cord blood banking and have a cord blood bank to consider, do the right thing and take one step further in preparing for your new baby’s protection.

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For more information on CryoCord, visit their website at cryocord.com.my