by Kamila Love
September is Sickle Cell Awareness month and I didn’t know this or should I say pay attention to this until recently meeting someone, it’s amazing what you learn or what you become exposed to by meeting new people.
Sickle Cell Disease also know as SCD and Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). Most people who suffer from SCD are of African ancestry as well as middle eastern, Indian and Mediterranean heritage.
According to the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) It is estimated that that SCD affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans.
SCD occurs about 1 out of 500 Black American births.
SCD occurs about 1 out of 36,000 Hispanic American births.
And SCT (Sickle Disease Trait) affects 1 in 12 Black Americans.
SCD occurs more often among people from parts of the world where Malaria is or was. Sickle Cell
Trait (SCT) worked as a protective mechanism against Malaria, a natural mutation of the hemoglobin gene. Malaria is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite that invades the red blood cells, which is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions.
SCD itself is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by an abnormality in oxygen carrying hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells, which give cells the sickle-like shape under certain circumstances. A sickle is a short-handled farm tool with a semi circular blade resembling a crescent moon, used for cutting grain. Just to give you an idea of what the cell looks like.
Sickled red blood cells jam up veins in the branching points and it damages the spleen over time causing it to stop functioning. It also causes swelling in hands and feet called Hand-foot Syndrome often along with a fever. The first modern report of Sickle Cell Disease may have been in 1846 where an executed runaway slave was autopsied and the doctors discussed finding that the spleen was missing. There are also various reports for Africa slaves showing resistance to Malaria but having leg ulcers.
In 1910 the disease was first characterized by Dr. James Byran Herrick in a report he wrote describing it as a “strange disease” including symptoms as asthmatic conditions and blood flow problems.
Many families suffer from this awful disease going through the generations because it is hereditary. So for this month many blood drives throughout the nation are setting up in support of Sickle Cell Awareness month. Also there are many organizations that fight for those who suffer from SCD. Faith 4 A Cure is a local organization that you can find and learn more about on Facebook. So support your local blood drives.
For those of you who suffer or know somebody who suffer from Sickle Cell Disease always go to your current health care provider but here are some natural remedies that you can do at home to help ease Sickle Cell Crisis:
Drink plenty of water, the ideal amount is 8 glasses per day, but most people may find this difficult to do, however dehydration can increase your risk of a the disease. Also avoid temperature extremes, exposure to extreme heat and cold can increase your risk as well, so keep your house at a nice even temperature.
Taking folic acid supplements and a healthier diet can help because bone marrow needs folic acid and other vitamins to produce more red blood cells.
You can easily increase your vitamin intake without actually popping a whole bunch of vitamins, just increase your intake of colorful fruits and veggies that are rich in vitamins.
I had no idea this disease was such a problem in the Black community until I met someone affected by it first hand. I did the research on it and now I am sharing it. I hope this has made you aware of the Sickle Cell problem and please do what you can to help. Thank you and Twa-la.
