Alternative Health Hints -- Treatments and Therapies<BR>To Manage Sickle Cell Disease -- Part 1

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	Treatments and Therapies To Manage Sickle Cell Disease Part 1 by Tom Tate
Astrology, Tarot, and Self Improvement for the New Age.

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Treatments and Therapies
To Manage Sickle Cell Disease
Part 1
by Tom Tate

Page: 1 2

There is no viable, widely available cure for Sickle Cell Disease. It is a chronic, lifelong condition. But there are ways to help prevent and treat its symptoms and complications.

Vaccinations to help protect against Streptococcus pneumonia should start early -- at 6 month for children diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. These babies are at high risk for infections that can become life-threatening within hours -- but which respond to regular antibiotic therapy for prevention and early treatment. Beyond that, maintain routine childhood immunizations. Adults should have regular annual flu shots.

Regular testing and monitoring for patients of all ages to determine the severity of anemia and insure red blood cells are being appropriately produced, evaluate kidney and liver function, assess heart and lung function and check for the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

Because of frequent blood transfusions, patients need to have their iron level measured regularly so that therapy can lower it when necessary before it becomes toxic.

A test which uses transcranial Doppler imaging can identify children with Sickle Cell Disease who are at high risk for stroke -- a complication of this disorder that attects 10% of young patients. This painless test is recommended for all children with Sickle Cell Disease because strokes can be prevented with regular remedial transfusions.

In addition to pain medications, hydroxyurea -- originally an anti-tumor drug -- has been proven to successfully treat adults experiencing many of the serious complications Sickle Cell Disease inflicts on its victims. It promotes the body's production of the type of hemoglobin usually produced by fetuses, and this helps prevent the sickling of red blood cells. This drug reduces the incidence of vaso-occlusive episodes and acute chest syndrome. It allows for less frequent blood transfusions. It prolongs life expectancy and may be effective and safe for use in children. However, its use brings possible adverse effects to a fetus conceived from patients using it and so it is contraindicated for both men and women who want to have a baby.

The high rate of red blood cell production in Sickle Cell patients requires abundant amounts of folic acid, which is plentiful in fresh green vegetables but which can also come from folic acid supplements in pill form.

Sickle Cell patients become easily dehydrated, losing water their body needs through their urine. Dehydration brings "thicker" blood which means decreased circulation through small blood vessels. Therefore, patients need to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and resorting to intravenous fluids when necessary.

Blood transfusions come with the territory in the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease and are frequently indicated for patients who suffer severe complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome or who become severely anemic. Transfusions replenish the body's reserve of red blood cells, lower the risk of stroke, can reverse a blockage that has caused a stroke, replace blood trapped in the spleen and reverse the process that leads to acute chest syndrome. But again, frequent transfusions can cause toxic levels of iron in the bloodstream which can, in turn cause organ damage, so iron levels must be monitored!

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Enchanted Spirit assumes no liability for health care recommendations or treatments discussed by individual authors whose work is published on our website.

The information here is offered to help in your research and investigation of possible ways to manage your own health care issues. Common sense as well as solid professional advice from your own trusted medical care specialist or personal holistic health care practitioner should always be part of managing your health care choices.

Tom Tate is a staff writer for Enchanted Spirit.
He specializes in writing about his lifelong interest
in alternative medicine and holistic health issues.

A person who has not done one half his day's work by ten o clock, runs a chance of leaving the other half undone.
~ Emily Bronte ~
Born July 30, 1818

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