Saturday, January 31, 2015

What To Know About Sickle Cell Charities

By Ines Flores


Charity is a humanitarian act. There are a lot of charities in operation today that strive to support different causes, including those related to health problems. Sickle-cell disease or anemia refers to a hereditary disorder of blood that affects people globally. Numerous sickle cell charities are in existence and strive to offer research, care, education and support to those impacted by this disease.

Sickle cell is a painful disease that afflicts all types of people, from babies to adults. It is typically diagnosed at birth. SCD is characterized by abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule in the red blood cells that carries oxygen. The condition causes the cells to take on a rigid, sickle shape that is considered abnormal.

This condition is associated with many other conditions that are chronic or acute, such as stroke, increased risk of death, sickle-cell crises and stroke. People who suffer with SCD have two abnormal copies of an important blood gene given to them by each parent. There are subtypes within this disease that vary based on the kind of gene mutation. Some might have only one copy that is abnormal, which will not produce the same symptoms and is referred to as sickle-cell trait.

Charities strive to address and support the various issues surrounding this disease. They put effort in promoting and helping fund research on how to reduce, cure or otherwise manage this health problem. All that is raised by these groups is used to support sufferers in one way or another. It might also benefit their families and the general public. Sometimes funds are used for educational programs to guarantee patients are informed and people understand the details of the disease. There are a lot of beneficial initiatives that come from these charities.

It is essential that people do adequate research on the charities they plan to get involved with. Most are quality and trustworthy, but there are scammers too. People should know where their donations are going and how they will be used. Many resources are available to help determine the validity of these charities. Different kinds of donations, not just monetary, may be given to help benefit the organization.

This disease and the trait is said to impact hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Those who do not properly manage it may experience a range of health problems or shortened lifespan. A simple blood test, typically done as part of routine newborn screenings in the hospital, is performed to determine if this disease is present. SCD might also be diagnosed before birth. Kids with this are more likely to develop infection and other health issues.

Unfortunately there is no remedy for all SCD sufferers. Different solutions may be used for disease management. Most charities that support this cause put funds toward researching and studying other solutions for curing, preventing or treating SCD.

To date, the only options for more permanent relief involve stem cell or bone marrow transplants. Both are invasive and risky procedures. Many people are waiting to have bone marrow transplants as treatment, but there is a long list of those in need. Furthermore, a close match is needed to reduce the likelihood of complications. Typically these two options are only used in severe cases of SCD.




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