WHAT IS CORD BLOOD?
Cord blood stem cells are found in the blood of the umbilical cord. Today, stem cells are mainly used in the treatment of disease and in tissue regeneration. They largely come from one of three sources – cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood.
BRIEF BUT IMPACTFUL HISTORY
Cord blood as a source of stem cells for transplant first surfaced in 1983, as proposed by Dr. Hal Broxmeyer and associates. Two years later, transplantable stem cells were discovered in human cord blood by the same team, opening the gates for more research and transplant options. In three short years, the first cord blood transplant occurred on a 5-year-old with Fanconi Anemia, a blood disorder.
BENEFITS OF CORD BLOOD BANKING
All cord blood is tremendously valuable. Even if the cord blood does not meet the requirements to be banked, it finds a second life in furthering research. Cord blood has tremendous promise for regenerating diseased or injured organs, including heart muscle, bone and spinal cord tissue. Whereas bone marrow or circulating blood requires near-perfect matches between donor and recipient, cord blood is more adaptable.
Despite how life-changing cord blood can be for both recipients and research, it is still often discarded due to a lack of understanding about what it means to donate cord blood. During National Cord Blood Awareness month, you can help achieve more awareness about the importance of donating cord blood by including information in your health observance materials in July to help spread the word.
Understanding Minority Stigma Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult.
Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition.
Taking on the challenges of mental health conditions, health coverage and the stigma of mental illness requires all of us. In many communities, these problems are increased by less access to care, cultural stigma, and lower quality care. These are all in addition to the usual roadblocks. Many cultures also view mental health treatment as a luxury, considering symptoms a “phase” that will eventually pass.
When trying to access treatment, these communities have to contend with:
• Language barriers
• A culturally insensitive system
• Racism, bias and discrimination treatment settings
• Lower quality care
• Stigma from several angles (for being a minority and for having a mental illness)
These harmful perceptions of mental illness can further isolate individuals who desperately need help. Keep minority sensitivities in mind when counseling and offering support to those in need.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM AIR POLLUTION When the body comes into contact with a foreign pathogen or chemical, an inflammatory response is triggered and will continue to be inflamed until the body is healed or the invader has been destroyed. Typically, most of us will experience acute inflammation that occurs for short periods of time throughout our life. Unfortunately, many will also experience chronic or long term inflammation that can do harm to our bodies over time. Recent studies that have found that chronic inflammation can be due to many things such as poor nutrition, allergies, weight gain, lack of physical activity, stress, smoking, pollution and environmental factors.
A few things you can do to protect yourself are:
• Pay attention to air pollution advisories and forecasts
• Try to stay inside when the levels of pollution are high
• Stay away from excess smoke
• Clean air filters in your home
• Keep a clean indoor environment
Many of us have seen the Arizona highway signs recently with high air pollution. Because we know that prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause inflammation markers in the body to become elevated, it’s important to take some time to learn how to protect yourself as we continue to see heat warnings.
