The Sickle Cell Crisis

There are ways to prevent episodic sickle cell crisis such as staying adequately hydrated, limiting physical activities, blood transfusions and taking medication such as hydroxyurea. In Addition, one of the biggest issue with Sickle cell anemia is lack of funding which is due to the fact that it is not officially recognized as a health disparity topic by CDC. Another disparity is the fact that in terms of funding and treatment; SCD pales in comparison to other diseases. the funding disparities for research on sickle cell drugs and cures compared to other pediatric diseases such as Cystic fibrosis. “Cystic fibrosis a disease that affects primarily Caucasians and affects only a third of the numbers of people compared to Sickle cell but still
Therefore, provision of optimal care plans and effective treatments for patients with sickle cell anemia must cumulate more research and funding. A large issue with the type of aid offered to sickle cell patients comes from the lack of treatment and medicines that are made available to patients. Painful attacks sickle crisis are things patients with SCD are subject to regularly. Crisis tend to render sickle cell patients immobile for large periods of time with intense sharp pains to the joints muscles and head. A sickle cell crisis occurs because of the accumulation of red blood cells in the blood stream causing a blockage. This block causes restricted flow of blood towards the rest of the body. Studies have shown that because the available treatment for sickle cell is limited and the availability of treatment medications are scarce, the population of people suffering from SCD are left medically neglected, prompting the need for more research and fund allocation towards sickle cell research even more evident. In a study performed by “the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute over the effectiveness of Hydroxyurea in treating SCD, showed that there was a noticeable decrease in their attacks, and a 40% reduction in mortality” (Halsey