NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR SICKLE CELL & ANEMIA
Anemia is the most common blood condition in the Africa. It affects about 3.5 million Africans. Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia. Important factors to remember are:
- Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth.
- Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy.
- Seniors also may have a greater risk of developing anemia because of poor diet and other medical conditions.
What Causes Anemia?
There are more than 400 types of anemia, some are:
- Anemia caused by blood loss
- Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
- Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells
- Sickle cell anemia
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Vitamin deficiency
- Bone marrow and stem cell problems
- Other health condition
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder that affects African-Americans. Red blood cells become crescent-shaped because of a genetic defect. They break down rapidly, so oxygen does not get to the body’s organs, causing anemia. The crescent-shaped red blood cells also get stuck in tiny blood vessels, causing pain.
Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body’s organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia.
Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:
- NB:During early pregnancy, sufficient folic acid can prevent the fetus from developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Bone marrow and stem cell problems may prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells. Some of the stem cells found in bone marrow develop into red blood cells. If stem cells are too few, defective, or replaced by other cells such as metastatic cancer cells, anemia may result. Anemia resulting from bone marrow or stem cell problems include:
People living with Sickle Cell
People with sickle cell trait don't have sickle cell disease and usually don't exhibit signs of the disorder, but they can pass the gene for the disease to their children. Many people don't know they have sickle cell trait, but most babies in the Africa are now tested as part of their newborn screening. When both parents have the sickle cell trait, there's a 25% chance that a child will have sickle cell disease. But when one parent is carrying the trait and the other actually has the disease, the odds increase to 50% that their child will inherit the disease.
Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen. It is made up of alpha chains and beta chains. A child with sickle cell disease has inherited two defective genes for the beta chain of hemoglobin.
Diagnosis
Sickle cell disease usually is diagnosed at birth with a blood test during routine newborn screening tests. If a child tests positive on the screening test, a second blood test (called a hemoglobin electrophoresis) should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.Because kids with sickle cell disease are at an increased risk of infection and other health complications, early diagnosis and treatment to prevent problems is important.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of sickle cell disease vary, ranging from mild to severe, and may be less severe or different in kids and adults who have inherited a sickle cell gene from one parent and a different abnormal hemoglobin gene from the other.Acute chest syndrome
Aplastic crisis
Hand-foot syndrome (also called dactylitis)
Splenic sequestration crises
Stroke
Infection: Kids with sickle cell disease are at increased risk for certain bacterial infections. It's important to watch for fevers of 101°F (38°C) or higher, which could signal an infection. Children with sickle cell disease and fever should be seen by a doctor immediately.
Other possible complications include leg ulcers, bone or joint damage, gallstones, kidney damage, painful prolonged erections in males (priapism), eye damage, and delayed growth.
Treatment
Bone marrow transplant is the only known cure for sickle cell disease. Transplants are complex and risky procedures and currently are an option only for a carefully selected subset of patients with severe complications.Sometimes, people who develop serious complications (such as recurrent acute chest syndrome, especially severe anemia, or stroke) may receive regular transfusions of red blood cells to prevent or treat these complications.
When to Call the Doctor
Seek emergency medical attention immediately if your child develops any of the following
Fever of 101°F (38°C) or higher
Pain that isn't relieved by oral medication
Chest pain
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Extreme fatigue
Severe headaches or dizziness
Severe stomach pain or swelling
Jaundice or extreme paleness
Painful erection in males
Sudden change in vision
Seizures
Weakness or inability to move any part of the body
Slurring of speech
Loss of consciousness
Numbness or tingling
But even without a cure, kids with sickle cell disease can lead relatively normal lives. Medicines such as B12 plus are available to help manage the pain, and immunizations and daily doses of b12 plus (an antibiotic) can help prevent infection.









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