Technology continues to change the way we live our lives. New advancements are introduced daily that would have been considered science fiction a generation ago.
And no other field has changed faster than health technology. Technology has improved medicine considerably over the years and the cosmetic surgery industry has certainly benefited from these advancements. From the introduction of laser procedures to the improvements in micro-surgeries, or even getting a labiaplasty.
Health advances over the past decade have helped people live longer and enjoy a higher quality of life. From new treatments, to hardware and software that speed up research and streamline the process of caring for patients.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most remarkable advancements you might not be aware of.
8 Biggest Advancements in Health Technology in this Decade
Researchers work around the clock to save lives, especially when it comes to health technology.
1. Artificial Ovaries
Believe it or not, tremendous progress has been made in the development of artificial ovaries. This is significant for a number of reasons, not the least of which is for women who are at risk of becoming infertile due to medical treatments such as chemotherapy.
In the past, many of these women have chosen to have their ovaries removed and frozen, to be transplanted back at a later time. Yet this method carries the risk of reintroducing cancerous cells.
Scientists in Europe have been working to produce artificial ovaries by growing ovarian follicles on engineered tissue. This procedure has been successful in mice, and they expect to test the same procedure in humans within the next few years.
2. Drugs That Treat Hearing Loss
Can you imagine improving hearing loss with medicine?
Most people with hearing loss are forced to wear a device that amplifies nearby sounds that are then injected directly into the ear canal. This could change, thanks to a company called Decibel Therapeutics that claims to have drugs in development that could reduce hearing loss.
The company has already tested the drugs in mice, and is in the process of raising funding for further research and innovations.
3. Big Data
It’s very difficult to overstate the contributions of big data to the medical field. Every professional within medicine relies on data in research, record storage, patient care, accessing patient information, and diagnostics, etc.
The ability to retrieve and access vital data is at the core of good healthcare. From dispatch to emergency rooms, big data makes everything run with the greatest speed and efficiency possible.
4. Electronic Aspirin
Anyone who suffers from migraines or any other form of chronic headaches can tell you how painful and debilitating they are. Medical professionals  have long associated the most severe of these types of headaches with a facial nerve bundle called sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG). Yet they have never found a long-term treatment.
This could soon change with research being conducted at Autonomic Technologies, Inc. This company is working on a tool for blocking SPG signals when signs of a headache first appear.
This technology involves the permanent implant of a device that stimulates the side of the head affected by the pain. When the patient senses the onset of a migraine, they place a handheld remote control against the cheek nearest the implant, sending a signal that stimulates the SPG bundle, blocking the pain-causing neurotransmitters.
5. Remote Check-Ups
One way to improve the quality of healthcare is by improving access. New medical technology is helping to make this a reality.
Telemedicine is a tool being used to help doctors check on patients from anywhere in the world. In fact, doctors can check on patients located in the most remote areas on the planet without having to ever leave their office.
To take it a step further, new medical robots even allow nurses to check on patients in different parts of the hospital, enable them to manage charts and monitor vital signs without the need for direct human contact.
Technology is creating many opportunities in medicine that never existed before, and educational institutions like this school are on leading edge of training the medical professionals of the future.
6. Human Head Transplants
Talk about something right out of science fiction! Yes, believe it or not, medical research is advancing to the point that it might soon be possible to transplant a human head from one person to another.
Sergio Canavero, an Italian neurosurgeon, has announced his intention to attempt the first-ever transplant of a human head. This is controversial and the subject of great debate. Not only would this procedure be very dangerous, it also generates a number of ethical concerns.
Though many experts in the scientific community remain skeptical, the possibility of success remains intriguing.
7. Locating the Brain Cells Responsible for Anxiety
The truth is that everyone experiences anxiety. People get anxious for many reasons. Today scientists are beginning to better understand how anxiety affects the brain and are hopeful of discovering a better way to treat it.
The brain cells in the lower region of the hippocampus are activated when we become anxious. Scientists have discovered how to increase the anxiety levels in mice by stimulating the activity in these cells.
Their hope is that by learning how to control these specific brain cells, they will be able to more effectively control the anxiety the cells produce.
8. A Superior Heart Valve
For patients who need a new heart valve but cannot physically endure the rigors of open-heart surgery, a new aortic valve from a company called Edwards Life Sciences might be the solution.
The Sapien transcatheter aortic valve is guided into the femoral artery through an incision near the groin or rib cage. This procedure promises dramatically shorter hospitalization and vast shorter recovery time for those needing a life-saving alternative to open-heart surgery.
The Future is Already Here
There’s no argument that technology is an amazing thing. It is impacting every corner of our lives. Health technology is no exception.
The more that we learn and understand, the more value technology can offer in the treatment of patients and the processing of medical data. It’s hard not to be thankful for living in an age when almost anything is possible!
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