Wednesday, January 28, 2015

The Details On 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.

The disease is associated with many different acute and chronic conditions, such as sick-cell crises, increased risk of death, stroke and infections. People with this condition have taken on two abnormal copies of a gene, one from each of their parents. There are also subtypes of the disease that will differ based on the particular mutation of a gene. Some may find that a single copy is only abnormal, which is called sick-cell trait. People with this do not typically experience the same symptoms as those with the disease.

Charities for this health condition strive to address issues associated with the disease. They encourage and help fund research to learn about ways to better manage and even cure this problem. The money and donations raised for these organizations also go to support sufferers and their family. This might include funding educational programs that ensure people become more aware of this condition and how best to manage it. Many positive initiatives are made possible through these charities.

It is recommended that people do some research on the charity they plan to work with. Most of these can be trusted and are of high quality. However, there are scammers to be aware of. People should know where the donations are going and for what they will be employed. A lot of resources can be used to help determine the validity of such organizations. Different forms of donations, aside from money, can be given to benefit these groups.

This affects thousands worldwide. People who do not manage this condition will experience severe consequences, such as shortened lifespan. A blood test, which is often done on newborns still in the hospital, is done to determine if an individual has the disease. SCD can also be detected prior to birth. Kids with SCD are more prone to developing infections and other health problems.

No single treatment is ideal for all SCD patients. There are several options available for managing this condition. Most of the charities in support of this put money toward study and research that can provide more options for treatment, prevention and cures.

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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