The Pros And Cons Of Organ Transplants

An organ transplant is a surgical process in which a functioning organ is given to a patient whose organ has stopped working or is close to failing(United Network for Organ Sharing). Organs can be taken from a living person or someone who has passed away(Medlineplus). A person’s organ can stop working due to diseases, injury or birth defects. Even though transplant is one of the advances of medicine the need is greater than the donation. There is usually a long wait time before a transplantation occurs.For example, a kidney can be donated because the human body only needs one kidney to function properly. In other cases, organs like the heart or lungs are taken from someone who recently passed(Al Jazeera America). The liver, kidney, pancreas, …show more content…
Acute rejection happens immediately and chronic rejection is a slow process where the organ begins to slowly stop working. Immunosuppressant medications are given after transplant to restrict the immune system. Suppressed immune systems are slow in fighting against foreign invaders which can pose as a problem, since these patients are more prone to get infections. (transplantliving .org)In addition, these medications may also have other side effects like nausea, vomiting, increased blood sugar/hunger,tremors, sleeping problems, swelling of extremities, moon face, osteoporosis, kidney damage, mood swings etc. The immunosuppressants patients may also need to take antibiotics, antiviral, vaccines, antifungal, diuretics depending on their needs.(transplant living)Immunosuppressants are drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system to prevent acute organ rejection(move this sentence up and delete the rest)which is a rejection of the organ in weeks or months. The patient may also experience some short term side effects such as, vomiting, stomachache, and nausea which are all normal. Immunosuppressants increase the risk for a cardiovascular disease and bone marrow suppression which is a decrease in cells that carry oxygen and cells that are responsible for blood