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I get asked a lot of questions about what and what not of Sickle cell and today, I have decided to enlighten us more.
Did you know:-
The sickle shaped red blood cell is named after a farmer’s tool called a sickle that is used to cut grass and hay. The red blood cells change shape and are not soft, making them stick together to the blood vessels. Haemoglobin is what is affected if you have been diagnosed with Sickle cell.
Haemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells, responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to all the tiny cells in the body. All cells in the body need oxygen. Haemoglobin gives red blood cells that distinctive red colour, when it is carrying oxygen from the lungs.
The amount of oxygen that is delivered to your body’s tissues depend on the number of red blood cells that you have and how well they work. If the sickled shaped red blood cells cannot travel through the tiny blood vessels very easily, oxygen cannot get to the cells, tissues and organs of the body that need it. When the cells of the body don’t receive oxygen, they can cause complications and that is why Sickle cell is referred to as a complex disease.
Haemoglobin levels differ between individuals. Haemoglobin is made up of two parts. One part is called Haem is made up of iron and the other part is called Globin, this is the protein that joins to the Haem, it contains alpha and beta chains. If you have Sickle cell, this means the beta chain is affected. Hb is short for haemoglobin. Every person inherits one haemoglobin gene from their mother and one from their father. And there are different haemoglobin types.
When you don’t have enough oxygen in the cells of your body, this can cause pain, which is known as a crisis. What causes crises:
Too much shortage of oxygen during exercises can cause the red blood cells to sickle, (stick together).
Stress could be sitting for an exam, working on a project, submitting an assignment, travelling, worry can cause the red blood cells to sickle and many more.
Infections like a cold, cough, sore throat can cause the red blood cells to sickle. Blood vessels become narrow in the cold, making it hard for cells to flow, which can lead to a crisis.
Not drinking enough water or liquids makes the blood vessels to become thick and sticky and the red blood cells cannot travel through the blood vessels very easily.
When in pain, try the following:
Try taking the pain killers that you have at home, according to the dosage, try a warm bath (hot for me), massage (gentle), try deep breathing for pain control and relaxation, and drinking plenty of water.
Try audio books, listening to music, putting a hot water bottle where the pain is, listening to someone speak, call a friend, watching TV, sleeping (if you can) and any other thing that can make you take your mind off the pain.
My book – How To Live with Sickle Cell is available for purchase on: www.amazon.com
