Mark Braboy
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, observed in September, is dedicated to educating the masses about this disease that affects 90,000 people of African-American and Mediterranean descent each year. That is one in every 500 births.
The Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation reports that 2,500 African-Americans have the disease statewide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sickle cell disease is an uncommon genetic blood disorder in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped in the form of a sickle due to abnormal hemoglobin. Unlike normal red blood cells that are perfectly round and can move around the blood vessels, the sickle shaped cells cannot move around so easily and as a result, they restrict blood flow to parts of the body and if left untreated, can cause severe damage to organs.
Less than half of the people found to have the sickle cell trait are at risk for developing the disease. It is possible however, for the offspring of those who carry the trait to develop the disease.
According to Jeffery Stafford, the program director of the Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation, the disease genetically originated and previously existed in Africa and currently affects eight million to ten million people worldwide.
The symptoms of sickle cell vary depending on the patient and the severity of disease over a length of time. The milder symptoms consist of pale skin, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, chest pains, and coldness in hands and feet. More serious symptoms consist of vision problems, increased risk of infection, yellowish tint to the eyes, and stunted growth in infants, children, and teenagers.
Many with the sickle cell disease will experience a sickle cell crisis which causes acute chronic pain in joints, organs, and in the abdomen. This occurs when the sickle cells are blocking the blood vessels and the cells are unable to carry the oxygen to the vital organs. As a result, permanent damage to joints and organs can occur.
A sickle cell crisis can also cause severe pain, anemia, acute chest syndrome, joint pain, gallstones, pulmonary hypertension, multiple organ failure, bone fractures, blockage of blood flow in vital organs, infections, and the risk for a stroke.
Stafford recommends that college students and others with the disease take heed to the warning signs that their body will indicate to them.
“Know your limitations. Know when your body is over exerted because high levels of stress and other extreme conditions can make the illness worse. Drink plenty of fluids and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.”
He added, “It’s okay to go out every now and then and it’s okay to have fun as a college student but make sure you monitor your social life and know your limitations.”
What should you do if you come across someone experiencing a sickle sell crisis?
“Make sure they are comfortable in a safe place and are warm and hydrated. Also, make sure that they have their medication and depending on their severity, call 911, especially in case of a stroke,” said Stafford.
Currently there are a wide range of treatments for sickle cell disease for adults and children. Medications such as antibiotics and pain medicine ranging from over the counter to doctor prescribed medicines are common.
For more information on Sickle Cell Anemia, visit: http://mssicklecellfoundation.com/.
