Asthma is a serious condition that causes swelling of the airways and affects around 25 million Americans. Every day, 10 people in the United States die from complications associated with asthma, and it’s one of the leading causes of missed school days for children all over the nation, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Treating Asthma Over the Years
Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and airflow obstruction, among others. Reports of asthmatic symptoms date back thousands of years. In the beginning, treatment options were limited.
In ancient Egypt, practitioners discovered crushed and sun-dried stammonium leaves could be heated over the fire and inhaled to help with symptoms. In China, a yellow tea with the herb Ma Huang was consumed by asthma sufferers; this is believed to be one of the best of the ancient remedies discovered before modern medicine.
In 1972, Becotide, developed in Britain, became the first inhaled corticosteroid inhaler. When it made its way to the U.S., other rescue inhalers and medications quickly followed.
In the 1980s, prevention became the focus of treatment, and medications that both prevent and treat attacks became the ideal. Today, that’s still the case as physicians work to prevent symptoms for longer periods of time until a cure can be found.
How Stem Cells Could Help Treat Asthma
Stem cell use is an exciting developing area of modern medicine in that it is seeking to heal diseases that have never before had a cure. It’s also providing new treatment options for those who have had few options in the past or simply are out of options after exhausting all current treatments.
Dr. Herskowitz offers stem cell therapies at the San Francisco Stem Cell Center for patients suffering from asthma with the goal of reducing inflammation and improving lung function. It’s also believed that stem cells are powerful immune modulators that can help with many reactive airway conditions.
To find out more about stem cell therapy for asthma, or to schedule a consultation to find out if you or your child is a good candidate for treatment, call us today at 800-318-6006 or email us at info@sfstemcellcenter.com.