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 disease is linked to a number of chronic and acute health conditions, including infections, stroke, sickle-cell crises, and a increased risk of fatality. People who have this disease have inherited two abnormal copies of this blood gene, one from each parent. There are subtypes that exist and vary based on the mutation of the gene. Some people might have a single copy that is abnormal and not experience traditional symptoms. Said individuals have what is called sickle-cell trait.

Charities of this kind often strive to support and address the many issues related to this condition. They promote and help in funding research on ways to manage, cure and reduce the occurrence of this. The donations and money raised by these organizations goes to supporting sufferers, as well as their families. This may include developing educational programs that guarantee patients are aware of how to manage this condition and what it involves. There are a lot of positives that come from the work of these charitable groups.

It is important that people do thorough research on the charity they intend to work with or give to. While many trustworthy and quality organizations are out there, people should be aware of scammers. Know exactly where the donations will go and how they will be used. Numerous resources can be used to check the validity of a charity. Several types of donations are accepted by these organizations, not just monetary funds.

Worldwide, people are affected by this. Those unable to manage the condition are expected to face consequences, including shorter life expectancy. Blood tests, which are usually done on newborns while in the hospital, are used to identify this disease. It can also be detected before a baby is born. Kids that have SCD are more likely to develop serious infections and other health conditions.

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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