Sickle cell disease affects 100,000 people in the United States. If untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications. There is no widely used cure for sickle cell disease, but there are treatments that can help. One way you can help patients with SCD is by donating blood.
What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Normal healthy red blood cells are round. The cells contain hemoglobin: a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that can last several years or be a lifelong condition. When someone has SCD, their blood becomes sickle-shaped (crescent-shaped), so they have difficulty passing through smaller blood vessels. The red blood cells become hard and sticky and carry an abnormal amount of hemoglobin. This can block small blood vessels and limit the movement of healthy blood.
Not only does this blockage cause pain, but also can also cause other complications including anemia, acute chest syndrome, stroke, damage to organs, gallstones, pulmonary hypertension, blindness, osteoporosis, and more.
Sickle cell disease treatment aims to prevent complications, these treatments may include:
- Blood transfusions
- Pain medications
- Bone marrow transplant
- Drinking plenty of water
- Vaccinations and antibiotics
What You Can Do to Help
Blood transfusions can play a significant role for people living with sickle cell disease. Some with SCD rely on blood transfusions throughout their lives—needing as many as 100 units per year. If you want to make a difference in SCD patients, one of the easiest ways is by donating blood. It’s a small action that makes a positive impact and saves lives.
Sickle cell patients usually benefit most from blood transfusions from people of the same race or similar ethnicity. During a blood transfusion, your blood and the recipient’s blood must have the same blood type with the matching antigens. When you donate to South Bend Medical Foundation, not only can you learn your blood type (if you don’t already know it), but you are saving lives. A successful blood transfusion can make a difference for sickle cell disease patients.
You can donate today at South Bend Medical Foundation.
