SICKLE CELL - A PARENTS GUIDE

Frankly the prognosis of sickle cell anaemia used to be very poor with many people not getting beyond early childhood. Today, things are much better sadly not because the medical treatment and cure options are better but because of earlier diagnosis and better use of things like antibiotics to reduce the incidence of serious illness.
However, because of a better understanding of the triggers of sickle cell crises you now have a choice of options. Avoidance of situations that can trigger crises is where you should start. Diet, Water, exercise, lifestyle and supplementation all play a part in your health choices.
In my opinion the prognosis for sickle cell sufferers today is better than its ever been and as we worth together we have the real possibility of enabling sickle cell become a managed problem rather than a life limiting one.

Over the last few years we have recorded several great calls with Dr Emil Mondoa, Author of Sugars That Heal, and we've managed to post them on one of our blogs
Listen to A Doctor's Perspective On Sickle Cell

Beetroot can be purchased as a raw vegetable to prepare yourself in a variety of ways. Like all fresh foods, use as soon after purchase as possible in order to reap the benefits of this wonderful nutritional vegetable - particularly important if you have sickle cell. Freshly purchased raw beets can be stored in the fridge for a maximum of three days. Prepared beetroot is readily available (but not as good) whole in vacuum-packed bags in the greengrocery section and is ideal for picnics or lunch boxes. The most recognisable form of beetroot is the pre-prepared option which is sold in glass jars in the UK (tins in the US) with a sealed, twisting lid. With this you have the choice of 'baby beets' which are a small whole, perfectly round and sexy foodstuff; or the larger, thinly sliced beetroot which is perfect for sandwiches.

Preparation

Raw

Prepare beetroot for eating raw by cutting off the tops and then peeling3 with a potato peeler. Beetroot can be grated, tossed with a little orange juice and eaten raw. Pigment in beetroot is light-sensitive and will turn brown on exposure to light, so use it up quickly. Remember to save any peelings and vegetable waste for your compost heap.

Cooked

When cooking beetroot you should always cook it whole, after snipping off the stalks. Wash the beet under cold water before cooking, don't pierce the skin and resist the urge to top and tail like carrots (do not cut off the crown and base). Apart from the staining this would cause, the beet would also lose its flavour.

Boil or steam: Beetroot can be boiled or steamed (beware of staining your walls and ceilings) for 20-60 minutes depending on its size. It is cooked when you can pierce it easily with a skewer. Allow to cool and then the skin will slip easily off. It might be wise to have dedicated beetroot paraphernalia because of the staining issue.

Baked: Wash the beet, trim the stalk and wrap each beetroot separately in foil. Place in a moderate oven for about 40 minutes (for small beets), then serve with seasonal vegetables. Large beets, up to about a kilo in weight, can take up to four hours to bake.

Purée: Reduce it to mush and add to home-made baby food; mashed potato; home-made soups; and vegetable smoothies.

Pickled: This is the most common way (in the UK) of using and storing beetroot; the sliced or 'baby' beets can then be dished up as required. Be aware that once the sealed jar is opened, the beetroot will start to turn brown so the contents should be used up as soon as possible.

Tip: Don't throw away the beetroot stalks and leaves, they are nutritious and should be treated in the same way as spinach. The greens have nutritional value, containing folate (important for Sickle Cell), iron, potassium and some vitamin C. Chop up finely and add it to quiches, curries and stir-fries, or mix with onion and garlic and serve as a dip.

Sickle cell trait occurred as a natural mutation of the hemoglobin gene. Sickle trait seems to be related to having a natural protective mechanism against malaria but the exact mechanism is unclear. Malaria is a deadly disease found in countries along the equator. People with sickle cell trait are protected from malaria while those with sickle cell anemia and normal hemoglobin are susceptible to it. Over the years people with sickle trait migrated to other continents.

Sickle cell disease is seen predominantly in the black population but is also seen in people of other ethnic groups. These ethnic groups include individuals from parts of the Middle East, Central India, and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, especially Italy and Greece.

Sickle Cell Anemia (SS) is an inherited blood disorder (autosomal recessive). Approximately one in 400 black babies are born with Sickle Cell Anemia, and about one in Ii have Sickle Cell Trait (AS).

The two hemoglobin types inherited will determine the shape of the red blood cell (RBC). When both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, there is a l-in-4 chance (25 percent) the baby will have normal hemoglobin (AA), a 50 percent chance the baby will have Sickle Cell Trait (AS), and a l-in-4 chance (25 percent) the baby will have Sickle Cell Anemia (SS). These chances remain the same with each pregnancy.

Sickle Hemoglobin C (SC Disease) is a milder form of Sickle Cell Disease. The baby has inherited two (2) abnormal hemoglobins, hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C. Approximately one in l,000 black babies are born with SC Disease. Hemoglobin C Trail (AC) occurs in about one 1n 40 black babies. If one parent has AS and the other AC, there is a 1-in-4 chance (25 percent) the baby will inherit AA, AS, AC, or SC Disease.

'AS and AC are carrier states, not disease conditions but may still be affected with mild symptoms.

Sickle Beta Zero Thalassemia (ST0) is clinically similar to Sickle Cell Anemia. STO occurs in approximately one in 10,000 black babies. STO is treated the same as Sickle Cell Anemia.

When one parent has Sickle Trait (AS) and the other parent has Beta Thalassemia Zero Trait (AT) there is a l-in-4 chance the baby will have normal hemoglobin (AA), Beta Thalasseinia Zero Trait (AT, Sickle Beta Zero Thalassemia (STO), or Sickle Trait (AS). These chances remain the same for each pregnancy.