How the Medical Industry is Evolving
Working in the medical profession must be very tough...
20:33 24 June 2016
Working in the medical profession must be very tough, as they say that by your second year of being a doctor, over half the stuff you learned in medical school is completely redundant. It’s an ever-evolving line of work and one that will always require constant upkeep and attention to stay on top of. Here is a little look at how the industry is evolving and for any aspiring doctors out there who are thinking about getting into the medical business, you might get some ideas about what areas to specialize in.
3D Printing
I think it’s fair to say that 3D printing is changing the world, but whilst it may not have changed your world yet, it soon will. One of the most exciting ways it’s changing things is in medicine. Health professionals can now print a multitude of things including: prosthetics, in-depth medical models, bone, ear cartilage, medical equipment, and skin. Those just mentioned are simply the tip of the iceberg and I don’t need to tell you how useful they will be, however amazing research has led to some very promising trials in the following: 3D printed heart valves, drugs, and tissues with working blood vessels. The medicine and medical technology seen in Star Wars and Mass Effect, is no longer science fiction.
Medical Marijuana
Whilst not new, it has recently been legalized in more states, which means it is being used to relieve pain like never before. Not only is this new so-called Cannabusiness changing the medical industry, it might also open the floodgates into research into other ‘undesirable’ cures that might lead to a realization that there are more cures and pain relievers that aren’t as bad as people might think.
Microbiome
Microbiome is the collective name for the bacteria that live in us and on us. We don’t actually know a great deal about them yet, however, there is some key research being done that will teach us what we need to know. These bacteria have an incredible influence on our health and within the next ten years they will be changing medicine in an unimaginable way. This research will lead to a much deeper understanding of why and how we get sick and how we can prevent it. An understanding of this could lead to the eradication of some common diseases.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease (and Dementia) affects millions of us and it is one of the biggest fears of young people. It’s always been a horrendous disease that cannot be cured, and there aren’t many treatments for it. Luckily research into the molecular makeup of the disease has led to manipulation of neurons in the brains of animals that can be used to treat many neurological issues.
These are just four of the ways the medical industry is evolving and changing which is leading to millions of people getting treatments and help that were thought impossible or science fiction only ten years ago. They are happening, and they are happening now. In ten years will we all be immortal? No, but we’ll probably be living till we’re 200 hundred (hopefully… but probably not).