Medical Care over the Decades

Medical Care over the Decades Medicine is more technically advanced today than anyone would have imagined 20 years ago. Today it is possible for a surgeon in California to operate on a patient in New York, with aids standing by of course. Vitals can now be checked remotely, saving countless trips to hospitals or labs. Many surgeries are now done by means of laparoscopic, so the patient has minimal discomfort. Currently there are gadgets in new stages that literally zap away a migraine with the swipe of a device. Parkinson's is now more controlled than ever, and of course those new fitness watches monitor our health 24/7 if we so desire. When you consider the advances that have taken place over the past 100 years, it is amazing. Scientists, doctors, nurses, health care workers, and trial participants are all part of the success of medical advancements.

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Medicine over the Years 2015- Scientists successfully used the revived DNA from a woolly mammoth and spliced it into that of an elephant. Scientist considers this a complete success. The hope is that for patients that have severely compromised immune systems, new healthy DNA may someday save their life.  2007- Scientist discovers how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells. This is very controversial among some people; however, scientist considers this a very important breakthrough.  2006- A very small liver, the size of a coin is generated from human cord blood stem cells.  2000- The first draft of the human genome is announced, with the final version being released three years later.  1998- A vaccine for Lyme disease was introduced to the market.  1996- Dolly, the infamous sheep becomes the first mammal cloned from adult cells. Dolly died in 2003.  1981- The first vaccine for hepatitis B was introduced.  1980- The world health organization announced smallpox is eradicated.  1978- A vaccine for meningitis was used for the first time. The world’s first test tube baby was born in the U.K.  1977- The first vaccine for pneumonia was introduced  1974- A chickenpox vaccine was successfully used to prevent this childhood disease  1970- The first vaccine for rubella was introduced.  1967- A South African heart surgeon performed the first heart transplant  1964- The first measles vaccine was used

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1962- The first oral vaccine was used to treat polio, as an alternative to the injected vaccine.

1945- The first vaccine for influenza was introduced.

1935- A heart lung machine was used for the first time during surgery. Still widely used today, this was a major invention.

1927- The vaccines for tuberculosis, and tetanus were introduced 1926- A vaccine was introduced for whooping cough 1924- A vaccine was introduced for diphtheria 1922- Insulin was first used to treat diabetes 1921- It was discovered that a severe vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets 1913- The Electrocardiograph was used successfully for the first time.

1907- It was discovered that malaria was transmitted by mosquitos, and the first successful blood transfusion was done.

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Prior to the 1900s medical discoveries were not always documented, however medical experiments, discoveries and breakthroughs have happened since the beginning of time. There has never been a shortage of determined minds that work to ensure medicine moves forward. During the 1800s patients were sedated for surgeries using alcohol from the local bar.

In many instances the patient was transferred to the back room of the local saloon, and surgery was performed there so that alcohol was readily available. For anyone that developed a cold, they were often ordered to bed out of concerns a throat or chest infection could develop. A severe throat infection was not treatable, and many people lost their lives due to scarlet fever. The invention of antibiotics in 1928. Ironically, there was much skepticism on the part of the medical community, they were very unsure about the use of antibiotics in humans. By the mid 1930s antibiotic use was very common. In 1940 some doctors discussed the idea of keeping children on antibiotics from birth until the age of 6, as a precautionary measure.

Thankfully, there was resistance, and this did not come into action.

Birth control pills were first tested in the 1950s, and with much controversy, and private donations, $150,000 was raised to study if there was a way to design an effective oral contraceptive. In 1960 birth control pills were introduced to the public in some areas. Some states have attempted to outlaw oral contraceptives; however, they were unsuccessful in doing so. By the late 1960s oral contraceptives were gaining in popularity, and deemed to be safe and effective. In 1961 is noted that more illegal abortions were performed, than legal doses of the new developed birth control were prescribed. Today’s market of contraceptive options is very versatile and offers an endless supply of options.

It's important to consider that for every pill we take, every procedure we undergo, and every piece of medical equipment used for our body, was once just an idea. It took someone with an idea, and the intuitiveness to create it for it to become a reality.

Relative: Registered Nurse Sylvia Ann Ramirez, RN to be published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare as a new member of the International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter