Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Sickle Cell Anemia Prevention

By Coleen Torres


This type of sickle cell disease is one in which the patient body produces sickle-shaped red blood cell. There are no known scientifically proven ways of sickle cell anemia prevention besides measures precautions that have proven to increase and improve length and quality of the lives of the patients of this type of sickle cell disease.

This methods range from vaccines, regular body and eye examinations, patients should drink a lot of fluids avoid smoking or lingering in smoky areas and crowded environments. They should always endeavor to be relaxed away from strenuous undertakings and also make sure that they have regular eye checkups preferably annually.

Vaccination against the common human diseases to patients in their tender and adult ages is very important in prevention of this disease. Childhood immunization procedures should be performed in due time and especially sickle cell patients in particular. Pneumococcal vaccination against pneumonia, influenza vaccines and meningococcal vaccine against meningitis administered at the age of five is some of the immunization procedures that should be followed to the latter.

Skin test on tuberculosis should be carried out annually. Preventive antibiotics should also be taken by the sickle cell anemia patients both young and adults to prevent the common and opportunistic disease that may attack the prone patients. Penicillin is such a drug that is given to patients between two months and five years of age provided that they are not allergic to the drug.

Patients should also adhere to strict nutrition and diet supplements. Sufficient fluid intake is prime in importance to avoid dehydration. Every day diets should provide enough calories, fats, proteins, minerals and also vitamins. Fatty acid like omega three found in soybean oil and some types of fish enhances the red blood cell membrane thus making it hard for them to sickle according to some unproven studies. Vitamins can be found in daily intakes of supplements of b6 and b12 vitamins and also folic acid. Meat, soybeans, poultry, watermelon, bananas, plantains and peanuts among others are types of foods that contain one or more of the required proteins for sickle cell anemia patients.

Childhood and adult patients are prone to stress related diseases like depression as a result of stigmatization, poor medical service and facilities among others. High cost of treatment is also a cause of stress related diseases that can be reduced by communal health care for this patients and proper hospitalization and medication. Patients and their care takers should make sure that they acquire stress free environments and support them both physically and emotionally in their day to day lives.

Additionally dealing with this long term disease can be achieved by meditation, breathing exercises, embracing positive thinking in order to acquire copying skill and reduce pain that is experienced by these patients. Today online platforms are available to all for research and connecting with support groups. Beside that one could rely on his her parents for support and also acquire professional help which is cheaper and more convenient.

In conclusion sickle cell anemia patients can live a normal and quality life by adhering to strict nutrition methods, avoiding stress and strenuous activities, having positive support from members of the community and like everyone else in the community they should have lifelong goals and ambitions besides engaging themselves in humorous social activities in their each and every days lives.




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