Breakthrough study reveals doctors used shockwaves to regenerate heart tissue

[KARAH RUCKER]

HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AROUND THE WORLD– BUT NOW A MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH IS LENDING HOPE TO MILLIONS WITH THE CONDITION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER– DOCTORS SUCCEEDED IN REGENERATING DAMAGED HEART TISSUE.

USING A DEVICE DUBBED THE “SPACE HAIRDRYER” DURING OPEN-HEART BYPASS SURGERY, MEDICS IN AUSTRIA SENT GENTLE SHOCKWAVES TO THE HEART– FINDING JUST 10 MINUTES OF TREATMENT– LED TO REACTIVATION OF HEART MUSCLE AND REGROWTH OF NEW VESSELS IN THE DAMAGED AREA– PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.

BYPASS SURGERY ONLY MAINTAINS HEART FUNCTION. THIS NEW PROCEDURE WOULD IMPROVE IT. 

THE STUDY FOUND THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE TREATMENT COULD WALK FURTHER AND BLOOD FLOW TO THEIR HEART IMPROVED BY MORE THAN 11 PERCENT– SUGGESTING A LONGER AND BETTER-QUALITY LIFE FOR PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW, THE STUDY SAMPLE SIZE IS SMALL, AROUND 30 PATIENTS, BUT DOCTORS WANT TO START LARGER TRIALS TO CONFIRM THE FINDINGS. THOSE WHO USED THE “SPACE HAIRDRYER” SAID IT IS “FEASIBLE AND SAFE.”

THE ‘SHOCKWAVE” METHOD IS ALREADY USED TO TREAT INJURED LIGAMENTS AND TO BREAK UP KIDNEY STONES.

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