Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Sickle Cell Anemia Prevention

By Coleen Torres


This is type of sickle cell disease in which the body manufactures red blood cells that takes the shape of a sickle cell. There do not really exist proven ways of sickle cell anemia prevention although patients can live longer and better lives if proper precaution are taken in their day to day lives.

This measures range from regular body checkups according to the recommended time frame of between 3-6 months, drink sufficient fluids to avoid dehydration and avoiding smoking or staying in smoky areas. Patients should be re relaxed and should also avoid crowded places and strenuous activities besides having thorough and timely eye examinations.

To prevent infection of the disease patients should be regularly and completely vaccinated or immunized against all common ailments. Children should undergo each and every vaccination they are supposed to at the required time. These vaccines are like the pneumococcal vaccine which is a vaccine against pneumonia; they should be immunized against haemophillus influenza which causes menenngitis, and also meningococcal vaccine and hepatitis b vaccine.

Every year patients should have a tuberculosis skin test. Patients ought to indulge in prophylactic or preventive antibiotics that help prevent pneumonia among other serious common infections found in young ones and patients of this disease. An example of these antibiotics is penicillin which is given to anemic babies beginning from when they are 2 months old to 5 years old.

Diet and nutritional measures are also very important in preventing occurrences of this disease. Patients ought to avoid dehydration by taking in enough fluids each and every day. Patients should also adhere to a strict dietary and supplement procedures. Foods rich in minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and calories should be their choice of ingestion. Examples of such foods are soybeans, fruits like watermelons, meat, poultry, bananas and plantains among others.

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.

Some additional measures should be taken in dealing with the disease are; techniques of stress reduction like breathing and meditation, learning copying skills to avoid negative thinking and pain reduction too. Patients who can not leave home can find help through online platforms for research and support groups. Patients should also seek support from parents andor professionals who may give the best help at a relatively cheap cost.

To conclude, one can almost effectively prevent themselves from bouts of pain and infections caused by this type of anemia by living stress free, having supportive members of their community, fulfilling themselves spiritually and career wise and indulging in humorous activities besides having an all round nutritious meals each and evenness day of their lives.




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