People’s improved physical wellness today is due in large part to the advancements scientists have made in medicine through the decades and even centuries. Though we may not pay attention to them in average moments, taking note of these amazing findings can help us feel more appreciative of what we have access to. They may also inspire you if you’re planning on becoming a health professional or researcher. With this in mind, we’ve listed a few notable medical breakthroughs in history.
Vaccination
Vaccines have become something akin to the mundane for many people who routinely get them at local pharmacies. However, you may be surprised to know that efforts that would eventually lead to modern vaccinations began as far back as 1796. At that time, an English physician named Edward Jenner exposed a boy to cowpox blisters from a milkmaid and found this kept him from becoming sick with smallpox, even when injected with smallpox-containing material. Eventually, people completely eliminated naturally occurring smallpox through vaccinations. As the years went by, medical experts produced vaccines for various other diseases, including tuberculosis and rabies.
Organ Transplants
The practice of transplanting organs began in 1954 with a successful kidney transplant by Dr. David Hume and Dr. Joseph Murray. From this point on, surgeons gained a better understanding of how to place organs in the body, connect blood vessels, and prevent unwanted aggressive reactions from the body’s immune system. This knowledge spread from the kidneys to encompass other organs. The 1960s saw positive results from lung, pancreas, heart, and liver transplants. Due to this collection of notable medical breakthroughs in history, individuals with failing or damaged organs can continue to live after operations.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into other cell types in the body and thus represent large potential for medical advancements. Though ethical issues surround the use of embryonic stem cells, scientists did find stem cells in umbilical cord blood in the 1970s. Following this, doctors were able to utilize cord blood to help a patient with Fanconi anemia in 1988. The stem cells in cord blood were also found useful in countless treatments of blood-related diseases, such as aplastic anemia and several types of leukemia, through the following decades. Today, research continues to expand the role of stem cells in medical treatments for neurological conditions.
