What To Know About Sickle Cell Charities

By Ines Flores


Charity is given voluntarily and recognized as a humanitarian practice. Numerous charities exist to support various causes, including those related to health. Sickle-cell disease, or anemia, is a hereditary disorder of the blood that afflicts people around the world. Many sickle cell charities are in operation and strive to provide more education, research and care to the many affected by the disease.

Sickle cell is a painful disease that afflicts all types of people, from babies to adults. It is typically diagnosed at birth. SCD is characterized by abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule in the red blood cells that carries oxygen. The condition causes the cells to take on a rigid, sickle shape that is 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 for this health condition strive to address issues associated with the disease. They encourage and help fund research to learn about ways to better manage and even cure this problem. The money and donations raised for these organizations also go to support sufferers and their family. This might include funding educational programs that ensure people become more aware of this condition and how best to manage it. Many positive initiatives are made possible through these charities.

It is essential that people do adequate research on the charities they plan to get involved with. Most are quality and trustworthy, but there are scammers too. People should know where their donations are going and how they will be used. Many resources are available to help determine the validity of these charities. Different kinds of donations, not just monetary, may be given to help benefit the organization.

Worldwide, people are affected by this. Those unable to manage the condition are expected to face consequences, including shorter life expectancy. Blood tests, which are usually done on newborns while in the hospital, are used to identify this disease. It can also be detected before a baby is born. Kids that have SCD are more likely to develop serious infections and other health conditions.

No single treatment is ideal for all SCD patients. There are several options available for managing this condition. Most of the charities in support of this put money toward study and research that can provide more options for treatment, prevention and cures.

To date, the only options for more permanent relief involve stem cell or bone marrow transplants. Both are invasive and risky procedures. Many people are waiting to have bone marrow transplants as treatment, but there is a long list of those in need. Furthermore, a close match is needed to reduce the likelihood of complications. Typically these two options are only used in severe cases of SCD.




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