Medical Uses Of Gold
Gold is biocompatible, which just means that it isn’t toxic to the body. For that reason, it can be used for a variety of medical treatments, including drugs and implants of all kinds. In the early to mid 1900s, it was discovered that gold was an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, because it is a great aid to the reduction of inflammation in the joints.
Medical implants also use gold in many occasions, since it doesn’t include a risk for toxicity and has a lower risk of infections. There are many different medical uses of gold, proving that it isn’t just for collecting and investing in things such as gold coins.
When it comes to medical implants, the gold is generally used in places that are at a higher risk of infection, such as the ear. It has also been used in other areas that are prone to infection, as well as serving a variety of uses in the medical world beyond implants. For example, gold is often used to treat prostate cancer, by helping to identify the size and position of the patient’s prostate during treatment. Small pieces of gold, about the size of rice grains, are used to find the prostate so that a more targeted dose of radiation can be given to the patient. Pace makers and insulin pumps also contain gold, because it has such a record of being highly reliable for electronic devices.
There are many different uses for gold, but the most cutting edge uses and research belongs to the cancer treatment area. Gold can be injected into the body and immediately travel to a cancerous area, which will allow doctors to treat these areas with anti-cancer compounds without having to treat the entire body. The newest research involving gold includes a study of how gold can bind anti-cancer compounds on their surfaces, carrying them through the blood stream and delivering them to the tumors. Once again, this allows for targeted treatments rather than full-body exposure.
Gold is such a biocompatible metal that it can be used for just about any medical need. Implants, cancer research and treatment, and even heart problems and diabetes all rely on gold for use in the various treatment products that are used. By taking the time to learn about gold and how beneficial it can be to the modern medical world, you might realize that it is much more essential to society than you originally thought. There are many uses for gold, and the medical world is not the only one taking advantage of this great metal. This is why gold will always be a great alternative investment to the stock market.
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