Medical breakthroughs are usually improved treatments for existing conditions, treatments for new conditions, or actual cures for conditions. These breakthroughs are big news because they can help improve patients’ lives and sometimes even save them from certain death. Here are 5 medical breakthroughs that haven’t happened yet.
A Cure For Cancer
Modern medicine has yet to find a cure for cancer. Of course there are different types of cancer. Some primarily afflict certain parts of the body and some are known for being even more insidious than others, but modern medicine has yet to find a cure for any of them. At the very least, cancer treatments will improve in the future. New technologies will allow for precision targeting of cancer cells, a far cry from current chemotherapy techniques. There are also nanotechnology probes in the works that can recognize tumors 1 millimeter in size for early detection and treatment.
Weight Loss Drug
There is no shortage of weight loss drugs in the world but there is one that is coming down the pipeline that looks especially promising. It is called Acomplia and has yet to pass the rigorous tests necessary for use by the public but has people talking. In preliminary studies patients were often able to lose 5% to 10% of their body weight and to keep it off for a period of two years. This medication must be taken on an ongoing basis for weight loss to be maintained.
Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease
Heart disease is a serious problems and one of the top killers of many different demographic groups but stem cells may be able to change that. Stem cells may be able to encourage the growth of new blood vessels in the area surrounding the heart which would reduce a patient’s risk of heart attack. This technology is in its nascent stage but looks promising.
Avian Flu Vaccine
The testing on a new Avian flu vaccine has begin. Another project that is still in its earliest stages, this particular vaccine is created out of a live virus. In theory, this should allow this vaccine to produce a stronger immunity than other vaccines that are currently being developed alongside this one. The H1N5 virus at the heart of this matter is deadly and many fear that it will lead to a pandemic but this vaccine could quiet those fears. This is another breakthrough that, while researchers are trying to confirm its efficacy, has not really happened yet.
A Cure For Paralysis
This possible future cure for paralysis comes from embryonic stem cell technology. Not without controversy, this procedure uses stem cells to attempt to repair spinal cord damage. So far this procedure has only been tested in rats but could work in humans. It is, however, based in stem cell technology, a highly debated topic.
These 5 medical breakthroughs may be on their way but they haven’t happened yet. They may happen as a result of the efforts described above or other techniques may be developed that will lead to these breakthroughs and help to achieve the same goals. These medical breakthroughs haven’t happened yet but it is surely just a matter of time.
Mary Ward writes about how to become an x-ray tech online.