Ischemia is defined as inadequate blood supply (circulation) to a local area due to blockage of the blood vessels supplying the area. Ischemic means that an organ (the heart) is not getting enough blood and oxygen. Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease, is the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart (coronary) arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Although the narrowing can be caused by a blood clot or by constriction of the blood vessel, most often it is caused by buildup of plaque, called atherosclerosis. When the blood flow to the heart muscle is completely blocked, the heart muscle cells die, which is termed a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI).  

Symptoms

Like other types of coronary artery disease, you may not have any symptoms at first. For some people, the first sign of ischemic heart disease is a heart attack. 

As ischemic heart disease worsens, you may experience:

• Chest pain, especially after physical exertion
• Dizziness or fainting
• Heart palpitations, which may feel like your heart fluttering or skipping beats
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in your feet or ankles

Hope with Stem Cells

Stem cells possess a unique characteristic – the ability to transform into any type of cell within the body, a process known as "differentiation." When introduced into a patient's body, these cells migrate to damaged or deceased tissue, initiating a process of repair and regeneration. This groundbreaking approach is why modern medicine has turned to stem cell therapy for various conditions. For example, a study published in The Lancet involved treating heart attack patients with stem cells harvested from their own hearts. A year post-procedure, scar tissue had significantly decreased by 50%.

Currently, three distinct strategies are under investigation for heart disease treatment using stem cells. The first method entails extracting stem cells from the patient's bone marrow and directly transplanting them into the heart via a catheter. The second approach involves utilizing donated stem cells to create patches or grafts, which can be applied to damaged areas, stimulating healing within the underlying tissue. Lastly, researchers are exploring the possibility of reprogramming the patient's own heart cells into stem cells capable of promoting healing, thus negating the need for a cell transplant.

Stem Cells 

We specialize in the treatment of Ischemic Heart Disease which means that the heart is not getting enough blood and oxygen. Also called coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease which is a heart problem caused by narrowed heart (coronary) arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

We have developed a special cell line called an Angiogenic Cell Precursor for treating patients with Ischemic Heart Disease. Angiogenic Cell Precursors (ACP) are produced from the patient's own blood. Through a proprietary process, we are able create a cell that will help increase circulation to the heart. The ACP's are delivered by a catheter procedure under the supervision of an interventional radiologist in the hospital under anesthesia. The catheter will allow the ACPs to be released in the effected tissue.

We have treated over 525 Patients already treated successfully for Ischemic Heart disease. These are the primary conditions we treat:

• Left ventricular hypertrophy.
• Myocardial infarction.
• Heart failure.
• Aortic stiffness.
• Endothelial dysfunction.