1. Add Oxygen to the Body
Sickle Cell anemia is a genetic disease that causes the red blood cells to be abnormally shaped and ineffective in carrying enough blood to the body. Normal red blood cells are round and smooth, but sickle cell anemia causes them to be crescent or sickle shaped. These defective cells have a much shorter life span than healthy ones and are prone to frequent clotting, resulting in the blockage of small blood vessels. When the oxygen level in your body is drastically reduced by sickle cell anemia, you may benefit from adding more by means of an oxygen breathing mask. This will immediately pump more oxygen into your blood stream and save you from other complications.
2. Use Pain Medication
Pain associated with sickle cell anemia can be treated with several types of medicines, starting with basic over-the-counter acetaminophen. Your doctor can prescribe more powerful drugs as needed. Doctors have also found the cancer medicine hyrdoxyurea to be helpful in managing sickle cell-related pain. It is taken daily and can prevent many painful crises and decrease the need for blood transfusions.
3. Bone Marrow Transplants Can Help
For those with severe sickle cell anemia, a bone marrow transplant may be a good treatment. The bone marrow is the spongy material within the large bones, and it is responsible for the creation of red blood cells. A transplant destroys the current marrow and all the sickle cells and replaces it with new marrow and healthy red blood cells. The procedure is not recommended in all cases because it is difficult to find donors with an exact bone marrow match and there are significant risks involved.
4. Blood Transfusions are Necessary in Severe Cases
For those with high risk of stroke or other life-threatening complications, blood transfusions are sometimes recommended. This adds healthy red blood cells to the system, allowing the body to get enough oxygen and the blood to pass easier through the blood vessels.
