Sickling disease

At some point in your life, you’ll accidentally drop something into the sink. If it’s small and of little value, like a grape, it may not be an issue. You let the water run and flush it through. But if your kid slips a big piece of Lego down the drain, you’re going to have some bigger problems when it gets stuck in your pipes. That’s kind of like what happens during a The stuck cells slow or even totally block blood flow, so some parts of your body don’t get the oxygen they need. That can cause intense pain that lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. But you can take steps to lower your chances of a crisis. And even when one comes on, you may be able to care for yourself at home. Symptoms The most common sign is pain that might be dull, stabbing, throbbing, or sharp, and seems to come out of nowhere. How severe it is and how long it lasts varies with different people and different crises. Some people have crises here and there, while others may have them every month. You might feel the pain anywhere in your body and in more than one place, but it’s often in your: • Arms and legs • Belly • Chest • Hands and feet (more typical in young children) • Lower back You may also have: • • Extreme tiredness • • Painful erections in males • • Yellowish Causes Typically, you won’t know why you had a crisis, and there may be more than one cause. Possible triggers include: • Being at high altitudes (mountain climbing, for example) • Changes in temperature, like if you go from a ...

A sickle cell pain crisis is due to the genetic condition sickle cell disease, and it occurs when blood cells clump together and restrict blood flow. These crises can be extremely severe and painful. Doctors use different treatments, such as pain relievers, and prevention strategies to help people manage sickle cell pain crises. Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that causes a person’s red blood cells to be sickle or crescent shaped. It is the Sickle cell disease can cause extremely painful episodes, known as sickle cell pain crises. This article will describe these crises, their causes, and their symptoms. It will also discuss treatment options for sickle cell pain crises, preventive strategies, and when to contact a doctor. Share on Pinterest Ed Reschke/Getty Images In sickle cell disease, red blood cells that are typically the shape of rounded disks are instead crescent or sickle shaped. According to the When there is a blockage in blood flow, it A sickle cell pain crisis can begin suddenly and last from Sickle cell pain crises are However, many individuals feel unable to get the care they need because doctors When a person can feel a sickle cell pain crisis starting, they should drink lots of fluids and take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. They should also speak with a doctor before taking OTC medication to treat a pain crisis. OTC medications • acetaminophen (Tylenol) • aspirin • • naproxen sodium (Aleve) Other ways a person might be able to manage ...

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition that affects the shape and function of your red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs transport oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues using a protein called However, if you have Sickle-shaped RBCs can also get stuck in your blood vessels, unable to reach many parts of your body. This can cause severe pain known as a Read this article to learn more about sickle cell crises, what can trigger them, and how you can manage or even avoid them. Scientists don’t completely understand the exact causes of a sickle cell crisis. Most of the time, it happens because of a physical trigger, but it can also occur without a known cause. Most commonly, any triggers that cause your blood vessels to • physical or psychological stress • cold weather • pain • alcohol • tobacco products • loss of fluids ( • infection • low blood oxygen ( It can be hard to identify which trigger is responsible for each particular crisis. Often, it can be due to a combination of causes. There are several types of sickle cell crises: • Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC): A VOC is the • Splenic sequestration crisis: This causes pain and swelling of the • Aplastic crisis: This happens when your body doesn’t make enough new RBCs to replace the ones already in your blood. Some viral infections, such as • Acute chest syndrome: This is the • Hemolytic crisis: This happens when large numbers of RBCs are destroyed over a short time. It causes a sudden drop in hemoglobin levels ( There are ot...