Medical science continues to make groundbreaking new discoveries regularly. More recently, mRNA (Messenger RNA) has been used to create a vaccine against COVID-19 within a year after the virus started spreading around the world.
The development was unbelievably fast. Treatments need to undergo several stages of testing and then approval before they reach the public. Major factors such as patient recruitment, logistics, and the cost of such a trial affect the time it takes to reach clinical trials. This can take up to 10 years or more.
Now, mRNA vaccine is being touted as the next big thing in the field of medicine. It can potentially lead to the prevention and cure of numerous illnesses that threaten the lives of millions of people.
Despite this progress, there are diseases that science has yet to find a cure or vaccine for despite its promising initial findings. In this article, we will take a closer look at five of the deadliest illnesses out there and what strides have been made so far in preventing their spread or leading to a cure.
Cancer
Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in developed countries and the third leading cause worldwide.
The good news is, medical science has made significant progress against cancer. The number of diagnoses and deaths related to this disease has fallen in recent years, thanks mainly due to more awareness about its symptoms as well as early detection methods such as medical imaging.
There have been several breakthroughs in its treatment as well, the most famous being the development of a vaccine meant to help prevent cervical cancer. In addition, precision medicine has enabled doctors to better understand how each patient’s genetic makeup affects their chances of developing certain cancers and how those cancers behave inside the body.
However, despite these advancements, researchers still have a long way to go before cancer can be eradicated from society.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, killing more people than any other illness.
In recent years, scientists have been using 3D printing technology to develop artificial versions of human hearts that can be used during transplants or as support after surgery.
Another breakthrough was when scientists found a way to identify people who are predisposed to heart disease and diabetes later in life. This discovery could help people make the necessary lifestyle changes to avoid these diseases and allow them to take preventive measures such as exercise and proper dieting.
AIDS
The worldwide prevalence of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) has been dropping significantly because of the availability of antiretroviral treatments that have been developed over the years.
So far, medical science has yet to find a cure for AIDS as there is still no effective vaccine to prevent it from spreading. This makes sense as scientists would need to develop a vaccine that can target different strains of HIV at once or those resistant to existing treatments.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, medical science has been working on ways to diagnose and treat it as early as possible. This will allow the patient to enjoy a better quality of life and prevent them from further deterioration of their cognition.
However, despite these advances in research, scientists still haven’t identified the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease. This makes it extremely difficult to develop a cure, especially when there are so many theories on what triggers this neurodegenerative disease.
Stroke
The first step to treating a stroke is identifying it quickly and then getting the patient to a hospital as soon as possible. This is because strokes are more likely to occur in the first few hours after symptoms appear.
Unfortunately, medical science hasn’t yet found a way to prevent stroke as they’re caused by several factors such as genetics and lifestyle choices like smoking and dieting. However, help is on the way with scientists now able to identify patients that are at risk of having a stroke and thus take necessary measures to prevent it from happening.
There are more illnesses that affect millions of people around the world that scientists have yet to find a cure for. Experts everywhere are working hard to discover treatments that could end the suffering of countless patients, but time can only tell when cures will be available for the public. For now, the best way to fight these diseases is through living a healthy lifestyle that includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, sleeping at least seven hours every night, and avoiding stress.
