The Executive Director, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, Toyin Adesola has revealed the major challenges sickle cell patients face daily and preventive measures.
HSENations reports that today Friday, June, 19 marks World Sickle Cell Day.
Sickle cell disease is a debilitating inherited genetic blood disorder that affects the shape of the red blood cells and can make blood cells and blood vessels stickier than usual. When blood cells stick to one another, they can form multicellular adhesion clusters in the bloodstream.
These clusters can reduce and block the flow of blood and oxygen, which can cause damage to the blood vessels and lead to acute and chronic complications.
These blockages also can lead to painful crises called VOCs, which are considered the clinical hallmark of the disease and the main reason why patients seek medical care in hospitals.
According to Toyin Adesola, Dehydration, Infections, Physical, Mental and Emotional stress, Anemia, Malaria are parts of what trigger crisis while the major challenges sickle cell patient face is pain and complication management.
Pain is the most common complication of sickle cell patients and the number 1 reason that people with sickle cell disease go to the emergency room or hospital. When sickle cells travel through small blood vessels, they can get stuck and clog the blood flow. This causes pain that can start suddenly, be mild to severe, and can last for any length of time.
Prevention
According to Toyin, there are simple steps that people with sickle cell disease can take to help prevent and reduce the number of pain crises, including the following:
Drink plenty of water,
Try not to get too hot or too cold.
Try to avoid places or situations that cause exposure to high altitudes (for example, flying, mountain climbing, or cities with a high altitude).
Try to avoid places or situations with exposure to low oxygen levels (for example, mountain climbing or exercising extremely hard, such as in military boot camp or when training for an athletic competition).
Adults with severe SCD can take a medicine called hydroxyurea to help reduce the number of pain crises.
Ensure you are checked often by a doctor to prevent complications, including an increased risk of infections.
About Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative
Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) is a non-governmental organization established in 2008 and registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission Incorporated Trustees Act (28806).
It was founded by Ms Toyin Adesola who has been through the traumatic challenges of living with sickle cell all her life. And she deemed it necessary to help those who may not be privileged, like her, to have reasonable medical attention, care, and emotional support. Due to ignorance, they suffer extreme pain, sorrow, low self-esteem, and stigmatization and many lack proper and affordable medical care in a disorder that is financially and socially draining.
