Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Details On Sickle Cell Charities

By Ines Flores


Charity refers to a voluntary practice of giving that is considered a humanitarian act. There are charities that support a number of causes, including health research and education. Sickle-cell disease, also known as sickle-cell anemia, is a hereditary blood disorder that affects people all around the globe. Many sickle cell charities are in operation worldwide and strive to find a cure for this condition, as well as provide sufferers and their families with care and educational services.

Sickle cell is known to be painful and hard to live with, especially when not properly managed. It is a problem people of all ages may have to deal with. SCD is characterized by abnormality of hemoglobin molecules of the red blood cells. This results in cells with a rigid shape that is similar to a sickle and 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 strive to address and support the various issues surrounding this disease. They put effort in promoting and helping fund research on how to reduce, cure or otherwise manage this health problem. All that is raised by these groups is used to support sufferers in one way or another. It might also benefit their families and the general public. Sometimes funds are used for educational programs to guarantee patients are informed and people understand the details of the disease. There are a lot of beneficial initiatives that come from these charities.

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.

This affects thousands worldwide. People who do not manage this condition will experience severe consequences, such as shortened lifespan. A blood test, which is often done on newborns still in the hospital, is done to determine if an individual has the disease. SCD can also be detected prior to birth. Kids with SCD are more prone to developing infections and other health problems.

There is no one treatment that works best for all SCD sufferers. In fact, there are many options available for treatment. Many of the charities put funds toward research and studies that can be performed to aid with future care, prevention and even reversal.

There are not many long-term or permanent solutions for healing this, except for stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Both of these options are invasive and come with numerous risks. Many patients are waiting to have bone marrow transplants, but there is a high demand and not as much of a supple. Close matches are needed for marrow transplants. Typically these options are only used for severe instances of SCD.




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