Google
Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
My friend has sickle cell disease. How can I help?
source: TeensHealth
year: 2018
summary/abstract:What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease. It’s a strange sounding name — but the word “sickle” doesn’t come from “sick.” The disease got this name because it causes blood cells to be curved or C-shaped, like the shape of an old-fashioned farm tool called a sickle. Normally, blood cells are round and look a bit like donuts. In people with sickle cell disease, some of the red blood cells harden and curve. They also break down faster than healthy red blood cells and can clog a person’s small blood vessels. This causes severe pain, called a “pain crisis.”
A pain crisis can last for a few moments, a few days, or even longer. Medications can help lessen the pain. People with sickle cell disease can develop anemia. They also may have some jaundice. Sickle cell disease is inherited. People are born with it. It‘s not contagious, so you can’t catch it from someone. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong health condition. Right now, there’s no cure, but there are things doctors can do to help.
What’s My Friend Going Through?
Because of sickle cell disease, your friend may be tired more often than you are or have trouble fighting infections. Most teens with sickle cell disease have to pay extra attention to diet, take vitamins (especially folic acid), exercise, get enough rest, and stay hydrated by drinking enough water. They need to watch how their bodies respond to infections like a cold. Some people take antibiotics to help fight off bacteria.
read more
+myBinderRelated Content
-
The clinical presentation, utilization, and outcome of individuals with sickle cell anaemia presenting to urban emer...Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) i...
-
Sleep Disturbance in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: Relationships With Executive and Psychological FunctioningSleep disturbance is common among childr...
-
Identifying Outcomes for Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Trials is Aim of coreSCDThe Green Park Collaborative (GPC) is wo...
-
World Sickle Cell Day: Sisters Living With Sickle Cell, Hoping for a Curehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Bg0RJv...
-
Living With Unpredictable Pain: A Sickle Cell Disease StoryGrowing up, Vismel Marquez wanted to joi...
-
My Red Cell Exchangehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTcLwgLE...
-
Sickle Cell and I: A Long RoadRecently, I went to a Sickle Cell user g...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Powered by
Support for this site is provided by
This platform is made possible through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) and its member organizations. SCDAA's mission is to advocate for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empower community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure.