Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a severe type of sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is a group of inherited blood disorders. Sickle cell anemia affects your red blood cells. It causes your red blood cells to have abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in your blood that carries oxygen. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin is not normal so your red blood cells have an unusual shape. Normal red blood cells are round, like a disc. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells are crescent-shaped, like a sickle tool. Sickle cells are also hard and sticky. They can't carry oxygen as well as normal red blood cells.
Sickle cell anemia runs in families. You get it from a gene passed down by both your mother and father.
Sickle cell anemia is more common in people of African descent, including African Americans. It can also happen in other ethnic groups. Today, most newborns are tested for SCD at birth.
There is also something called sickle cell trait. This happens when you get a sickle cell gene from only one parent. Sickle cell trait usually doesn't cause symptoms and isn't serious. Sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait are not contagious. This means it can't be passed from person to person by coughing or touching.
Until recently, SCD could be cured only with a bone marrow transplant. However, new gene therapies for SCD have been approved. Talk with your doctor (or your child's doctor) about these treatments.
People with sickle cell anemia may have problems during their life. One of these problems is called a pain crisis (also known as a sickle cell crisis). A pain crisis happens when many sickle cells stick together and block blood vessels. This makes it hard for blood and oxygen to get to the body's tissues.
During a pain crisis, you may have severe pain in your chest, lower back, abdomen, arms, and legs. A crisis may happen without known cause. It can also happen due to things like dehydration, infection, stress, high altitudes, and changes in temperature. The pain can last for hours or even days. Pain crises may happen several times a year.
Home care
Tips for taking care of yourself at home include:
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Watch for sores (ulcers) on your legs. These are caused by poor blood flow. They're a sign that the sickle cell anemia isn't under control.
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Tell your doctor if you snore or have trouble breathing when lying down or sleeping.
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Get treatment for any other health condition, such as diabetes. This is important to prevent complications of sickle cell anemia.
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If you're pregnant or plan to get pregnant, get prenatal care early.
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If you travel by air, only fly in planes that are pressurized. If you need to fly in a plane that is not pressurized, talk with your doctor. They can tell you how to stay safe.
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Talk with your doctor about what kind of pain medicine you can use.
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Drink plenty of water. This is even more important during warm weather.
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Get treated for any infection right away. This includes cold, flu, and skin infections.
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Wear warm clothes in cold weather or in air-conditioned rooms.
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If you know which factors trigger pain crises, work with your doctor to plan how to prevent and manage them.
Lifestyle changes
Suggestions for changes include:
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Limit how much alcohol you drink to 1 drink per day or less.
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Quit smoking. Join a stop-smoking program to help you be successful.
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Exercise regularly but not so much that you become very tired. Drink lots of fluids when you exercise.
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Don't do very strenuous activities, such as rough contact sports. Ask your doctor what type and level of physical activity is best for you.
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Sleep at least 7 to 9 hours every night.
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Learn ways to manage your stress and emotions, and cope with problems.
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Avoid sudden extreme changes in temperatures - both cold and heat.
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Choose a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Follow-up care
Make follow-up appointments as told by your doctor. Regular follow-up visits are very important. Know the best way to get in touch with your doctor. This should include after clinic hours, weekends, and holidays.
When to call your doctor
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these:
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Swollen hands or feet
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Sudden paleness in the skin or nail beds
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Yellow color of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
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Fever, or any other sign of infection
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Belly (abdomen) swelling
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Unable to drink fluids to keep hydrated
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Sudden tiredness with no interest in what's going on
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Erection that won't go away or is painful
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Trouble hearing or seeing
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Weakness on 1 side of the body
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Sudden change in speech
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Headache
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Trouble breathing
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Joint, abdomen , chest, lower back, or muscle pain
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New skin sores
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Limping