Can Stem Cells Combat the Effects of Climate Change?

NEW YORK - April 10, 2015 - PRLog -- Humanity is facing a very difficult task, and that is to adapt to ever-increasing levels of air pollution caused by climate change. According to the EPA, “If emissions of air pollutants remain fixed at today’s levels until 2050, warming from climate change alone could increase the number of Red Ozone Alert Days (when the air is unhealthy for everyone) by 68% in the 50 largest eastern U.S. Cities.”

Most proposed solutions to this crisis involve making it more expensive to consume energy, but what if there’s another way? Novel applications of emerging stem cell technology may hold the answer. No one seems to be talking about the fact that the most effective maneuver for mankind at this junction may not be to make energy more expensive, but to make preventative healthcare even cheaper and evermore accessible…without the unnecessary proliferation of economic burden displacement that seems to accompany most global “solutions” to healthcare inequality and/or climate change. The ephemeralization of preventative healthcare through the ultra low-cost procurement and dissemination of stem cells – derived from “throw-away” mesenchymal, placental tissue – could usher in a new era of both health and prosperity for the world; at the expense of no one and in the face of an epic evolutionary and planetary crisis.

“Every year more than 13 million deaths worldwide are due to environmental pollutants, and approximately 24% of diseases are caused by environmental exposures that might be averted through preventive measures,” said Brian Mehling, M.D., CMO of Blue Horizon Stem Cells, a division of Blue Horizon International. “Weather and climate play a significant role in people's health. Changes in climate affect the average weather conditions that we are accustomed to. Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme events could enhance the spread of some diseases,” he added.

Increased levels of ground-level ozone are typical of climate change. These levels can damage lung tissue and can reduce lung function and inflame airways. This can increase respiratory symptoms and aggravate asthma or other lung diseases. It is especially harmful to children, older adults, outdoor workers, and those with asthma and other chronic lung diseases. In the United States, asthma is a disease that is on the increase. Asthma ranks among the most common chronic conditions, affecting an estimated 14.9 million people and causing more than 1.5 million emergency department visits, about 500,000 hospitalizations, and more than 5,500 deaths annually.

“Allergic asthma is a complex and chronic inflammatory disorder which is associated with airway hyper-responsiveness and tissue remodeling of the airway structure. Research has been ongoing around the world that exploits the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties of adult stem cells to control the reactive airways associated with asthma. Chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are incurable and represent a very high social burden. Stem cell-based treatment may represent a hope for the cure of these diseases,” Dr. Mehling said.

Numerous investigations suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC's), in general, represent a valuable tool for therapy of symptoms related to aging and chronic inflammatory diseases. Blue Horizon Stem Cell Therapy Program is a leading provider of stem cell therapies. BHSC has safely and efficiently treated more 700 patients with documenting each procedure.  Recent studies conducted by BHSC scientists showed that intravenously-administered, umbilical cord MSC's were safe and effective in the improvement of symptoms related to chronic inflammation.

Blue Horizon International is a healthcare consulting company with a unique concept that combines treatment, research and philanthropic efforts. Blue Horizon International provides quality care and service for medical treatments globally, advanced technologies in stem cell therapies, and also provides resources needed to assist children and adults who are medically underserved. For more information please visit Blue Horizon International at www.bluehorizoninternational.com.