Sickle cell anemia is a disease diagnosed in patients of different age groups. According to Platt et al (994), sickle cell disease or sickle cell anemia is an autosomal blood disorder that occurs on a genetic level and can recess during the life period of a patient. This disease is characterized by red corpuscles that acquire a sickle shape. This transformation reduces the cells flexibility and can cause numerous complications in case the problem is not approached adequately. Sickling is the result of a genetic mutation in blood cells. Life expectancy is shortened because of genetic transformations; besides, an average life expectancy equals 42 and 48 years in males and females respectively (Platt et al, 994).
Stress experienced by most individuals with a sickle-cell-anemia diagnosis in the teenage is a frequent phenomenon that should be approached properly. These individuals face specific problems related to sickle cell anemia such as their body-image conflict. In this respect, psychological assistance should be provided to those patients as well as appropriately coordinated therapy. Sickle cell anemia is a recessive disease though it is also characterized by relapses that can cause some complications and damage the body of
a patient. Counseling sessions as well as some support and encouragement received from family and friends can help individuals to cope with their psychological stress and uncertainty.
Treatment and Prevention
There are different approaches a young person can treat and/or prevent having a sickle cell crisis. The patient is advised to avoid certain types of medications such as decongestants because of the simple fact that they vasoconstrict blood vessels. When blood vessels vasoconstrict, some hemoglobin is altered to blood giving rise to the possibility the hemoglobin will sickle. As the scholars from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH) report (200), patients should avoid extreme heat or cold and also work to reduce overall stress levels. Patients also need to consider the possible early warning signs of a stroke.
These include numbness, one-sided weakness, and slurred speech patterns. The blood of a patient is transformed in the shortest time periods; so, it is necessary to provide a patient with a supplementary amount of folic acid to produce red corpuscles as suggested by the New York Times experts (200). Patients will usually have a higher life expectancy by managing their health status.
Exams and Treatments