What major medical advances have been made in the past 5 years?

[Sasha]

I'm still waiting for Star Trek medicine!

And we're always being told that medical advances are at least five years away. So, looking back over the past five years, have any amazing advances been made? Particularly (though not necessarily) any that might have relevance for us?

I'm wondering how far off Star Trek medicine still is...

 

[Dolphin]

I got the impression the treatment of Hepatitis C is a big breakthrough. Don’t have any in-depth knowledge though.

 

[Dolphin]

Not sure of timeline but the efficacy and widespread access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV seems like a breakthrough.

 

[Milo]

I got the impression the treatment of Hepatitis C is a big breakthrough. Don’t have any in-depth knowledge though.

that was a big breakthrough.

I would add that in a matter of a few weeks, there was a test for COVID, then vaccines, then treatments, all within 2 years. That's speedy in terms of medicine and medical advances.

 

[Kitty]

There have been three new treatments for spinal muscle atrophy, all of which have the potential to be genuinely life changing for children born with the condition.

 

[Subtropical Island]

Malaria vaccine

 

[Subtropical Island]

Figuring out that we were trying to cure cancers like prostate all wrong. And then getting it right. (Stop it metatstatising)

blood tests for various cancers (eg breast)

Various tests and treatments for cystic fibrosis

research that saved lots of people from unnecessary surgeries for knee problems etc (when they realised it wasn’t better than placebo but gentle cycling is)

…
Crispr?

 

[Leila]

I think there are better meds for MS now

 

[Subtropical Island]

Telemedicine is a wee bit Star Trek …?

this is kinda fun…to be reminded that stuff does come up

ETA: rapid blood test machines and immunotherapy for cancer treatment too - although they’re just getting warmed up

 

[Arnie Pye]

My emphasis:

I would add that in a matter of a few weeks, there was a test for COVID, then vaccines, then treatments

I thought the only treatments available were for those people who were sick enough to go into hospital. What can people buy in a pharmacy without prescription in preparation for developing Covid?

 

[Peter T]

My emphasis:


I thought the only treatments available were for those people who were sick enough to go into hospital. What can people buy in a pharmacy without prescription in preparation for developing Covid?

I assumed this referred to the antivirals that are now prescribed early on when people at high risk get Covid.

However, did any one formally confirm that vitamin D help prevent getting Covid or ensure an infection was less severe? It was talked about for a while but I have nothing more about it recently.

 

[cassava7]

Lupus (treatment & aetiology).

A treatment for most cases of cystic fibrosis (Trikafta).

A cure for haemophilia B.

For migraine, monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor (erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, eptinezumab, ubrogepant).

 

[Mij]

https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.or...-unveils-top-10-medical-innovations-for-2021/

 

[Arnie Pye]

I assumed this referred to the antivirals that are now prescribed early on when people at high risk get Covid.

So people have to speak to a doctor to get a prescription? My response is "How?". It's like trying to get an audience with royalty where I live.

 

[Arnie Pye]

https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.or...-unveils-top-10-medical-innovations-for-2021/

I noticed number 8 in the article in particular.

8. Vacuum-Induced Uterine Tamponade Device for Postpartum Hemorrhage

Characterized as excessive bleeding after having a baby, postpartum hemorrhage is a devastating complication of childbirth, affecting from one to five percent of women who give birth. Mothers experiencing postpartum hemorrhage may require blood transfusions, drugs which may cause dangerous side effects, long uncomfortable procedures, and even emergency hysterectomy with loss of fertility. Non-surgical interventions directed at the site of bleeding has been limited to balloon devices that expand the uterus while compressing the site of bleeding.

There is another massive effect of postpartum hemorrhage that can affect women for the rest of their lives leaving them with a poor quality of life permanently. That is Sheehan's Syndrome . The catastrophic bleeding can lead to necrosis of the pituitary. Given that the pituitary produces multiple hormones the number of possible symptoms is huge. There are people on the thyroid forum I read who have a history that makes it possible they are a candidate for Sheehan's, but getting a diagnosis is almost impossible. The condition will reduce the output of TSH so their thyroids don't produce sufficient thyroid hormones. And hypothyroidism is diagnosed by TSH level. Anyone mentioning secondary hypothyroidism is told it is very rare with the implication that the patient isn't interesting enough to actually have it so no testing is done.

 

[Kitty]

It's like trying to get an audience with royalty where I live.

Sure, but that doesn't alter the fact that these major advances were made, astoundingly quickly.

 

[Arnie Pye]

Sure, but that doesn't alter the fact that these major advances were made, astoundingly quickly.

Yes, true.