Living with Sickle Cell Anemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Sickle cell anemia afflicts about 70,000 Americans. The only cure for this disease is a bone marrow transplant which is most often not an option for most patients because a suitable donor is so hard to find. Even with a bone marrow transplant there is a high risk of rejection of the marrow or a life threatening infection. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disease which runs in families, often affecting generation after generation, sometimes even siblings or parents and children. The life expectancy for one with this disease, not so long ago was 20-40 years but today patients are making it into their 50's and some even longer. If a parent carries a single sickle cell trait, while they themselves will not have the disease they are carriers who may pass this gene on to their children.

If said child also inherits the sickle cell gene from another carrier parent they will develop sickle cell anemia. These two abnormal genes cause the bodies red blood cells to change shape, from a normal disc shape to a fingernail moon shape or a sickle shape. Normal red blood cells are flexible and the abnormal ones are more stiffened affecting the red blood cells ability to freely move about. This causes, among many other problems, circulation interruption. These abnormal cells have less than half the lifespan of normal cells. They are fragile and weak, they break down causing anemia. Blood transfusions are commonly done on sickle cell patients. Some only need them on occasion and others on a regular basis.

Sickle cell anemia mainly strikes in the African American population. One in twelve African Americans carry the trait or sickle cell gene. These people do not get the disease but are able to pass the gene on to their children. The disease also strikes those of Middle Eastern descent and those with Mediterranean backgrounds. Sickle cell can be crippling both emotionally and mentally to the sufferer. I have a friend in her 50's that sufferers from this disorder and she is often hospitalized for blood transfusions and severe pain. She has lost her father, sister and a brother to this same disease. She has lived to an older age than anyone else in her family afflicted. There is test available for any age to look for the trait. This is good news as newborns can be treated from the start and potential parents can find out if they both carry the defected gene and risk passing it on.

Besides circulation and breathing problems, patients are at a higher risk of stroke and blockage of blood vessels in the lungs. Sickle cell also causes many painful conditions such as chest pain, stomach pain or any other part of the body like arms and legs or even the internal organs. This is due to the sickle cells blocking vessels. Organ failure is on symptom of Sickle cell that can be fatal. These painful episodes may last for hours or days. Frequency varies from person to person and is often so severe that the patient must be hospitalized or be put on various pain meds in strong doses. Doctors try to prevent some of the complications that come with this disorder with folic acid to help replenish the red blood cells and anti- biotics to prevent infection in younger patients. There is not much else medicine can do next to the risky bone marrow transplant. However there is hope for sickle cell in the research of gene therapy. Scientist hope to one day be able to replace the abnormal sickle cell gene with a normal gene.

As for what the patient can do for his or herself, well it's mostly common sense. A healthy diet, lots of fluids, vitamins, rest and pain management. Alcohol and smoking will most likely aggravate sickle cell symptoms. Keep on top of illness or even possible illness. Get immunizations and preventive flu shots and see a doctor if a fever develops. Avoid extreme temps,either hot or cold and places where oxygen levels may be low. In most cases this disease is manageable with the right care.

　

　

　kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/bloodsickle_cell_anemia.html#

　www,nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000527.htm