HealthyLife Articles

Tag: sickle-cell

  • Living Well With Sickle Cell

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Two couples walking and laughing along the beach.

    Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders. With SCD, red blood cells are crescent or “sickle” shaped. They are also stiff, which makes it hard for them to move throughout the body. This can block blood flow, causing severe pain, infections, eye problems and stroke.

    Can SCD be cured?

    Some people with SCD can be cured with a blood and bone marrow transplant. There are also medications that help lower symptoms and problems from the disease.

    People with SCD should work with their doctors to find out which treatment is best for them. With the right medical care, many people with SCD can live full lives.

    Healthy living tips

    If you or your child has SCD, follow these tips to feel your best and avoid complications:

    *  See your doctor: Regular health checkups are essential when you have SCD. Ask your doctor how often you should have checkups.

    *  Prevent infections: Infections like the flu can be dangerous for people with SCD. Take steps to prevent them, like frequent handwashing, avoiding people who are sick and getting recommended vaccines.

    *  Drink plenty of water: Aim to drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day.

    *  Eat a healthy diet: Good nutrition is important. Your doctor or nutritionist can help you create a healthy eating plan that works for you.

    *  Get exercise: Stay active, but don’t do strenuous or very difficult exercise. Take breaks when you need to, and drink plenty of water.

    *  Avoid extreme heat and cold: Sudden changes in temperature can cause problems like severe pain. Don’t jump into very cold or hot water.

    Get emergency care when needed

    If you or your child has SCD with these symptoms, seek emergency medical care:

    *  Severe anemia: Signs include shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeat or extreme tiredness.

    *  Fever: A fever higher than 101.3 requires antibiotics right away.

    *  Acute chest syndrome: Symptoms of this complication include chest pain, coughing, fever and trouble breathing.

    *  Stroke: Signs include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, confusion or trouble seeing, talking or walking.

    Sources: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Sickle Cell Anemia

    Bone & Muscle Problems

    Red blood cells are normally round. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells take on a sickle shape. This makes the blood thicker and doesn’t let oxygen get to the body’s tissues like it should. When sickled cells get stuck in the blood vessels, they cut off the blood supply. With no oxygen, pain occurs. The result is a “Sickle Cell Crisis.”

    Signs & Symptoms

    *  Bone and joint pain. This is the most common complaint. The pain can also be in the chest, back, or abdomen.

    *  Shortness of breath and a hard time breathing.

    *  Swollen hands and feet.

    *  Jaundice. The whites of the eyes and/or the skin looks yellow.

    *  Paleness.

    *  Repeated infections, especially pneumonia or meningitis.

    *  Kidney problems. Leg ulcers. Gallstones (at an early age). Gout.

    *  Seizures.

    *  Strokes (at an early age).

    Causes

    Sickle cell anemia is inherited. In the U.S., it mostly affects African Americans, but can occur in other ethnic groups. Examples are persons whose ancestors are from Cuba, Central and South America, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. About 1 in 12 African Americans carries the gene for the sickle cell trait. If both parents carry the trait, the chance of having a child with sickle cell anemia is 1 out of 4. About 1 in 375 African Americans and about 1 in every 1,000 Latin Americans are born with sickle cell anemia. Signs of the disease aren’t noticed until the end of the infant’s first year. All hospitals in the U.S. screen newborns for sickle cell disease.

    To prevent sickle cell anemia in offspring, couples, especially African American couples, should have a blood test to see if they are carriers for the sickle cell trait. Genetic counseling can help them decide what to do.

    Treatment

    Medical treatment is needed. Painful episodes are treated with painkillers, fluids, and oxygen. Other treatments:

    *  Hydroxyurea medicine.

    *  Blood transfusions.

    *  Stem cell transplant. This may be an option for children who have a brother or sister without sickle cell disease that is a matched donor.

    In the U.S., the life span for a person with sickle cell disease is 40-60 years.

    Questions to Ask

    Self-Care / Prevention

    *  Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Wear a medical alert tag.

    *  Avoid physical stress and high altitudes.

    *  Discuss airplane travel with your doctor.

    *  Ask your doctor what over-the- counter medicines you can use before you try any.

    *  Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Get the rest you need.

    *  Follow a balanced diet. Have at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Take folic acid (a B vitamin) supplements and other vitamins and minerals, as advised by your doctor.

    *  Don’t wear tight clothing.

    *  If at home and in a “sickle cell crisis:”

    – Stay warm. Apply warm compresses to painful parts of your body.

    – Rest in bed.

    – Take pain medication, as prescribed.

    Healthier at Home book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine