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The 24hrmom show is dedicating to bringing awareness to health issues that can affect us. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Many of us know of someone who is Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic. You can live a long life with diabetes if you change your eating habits and excercise. If you have not gotten your blood sugar tested because of the fear of unknown , then you should especially if it is very dominate in your family. Your Health is serious. Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month ALL women should conduct monthly breast self-examinations and get there mammograms at age 40.Take care of you first

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 9/9/2009 3:28 PM UTC

  September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
  

  Did you know that that September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month?

  Do we all know what Sickle Cell Anemia?

  Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin* S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.

  So you ask how we get it and passed it on to our children.

  Sickle cell conditions are inherited from parents in much the same way as blood type, hair color and texture, eye color and other physical traits. The types of hemoglobin a person makes in the red blood cells depend upon what hemoglobin genes the person inherits from his or her parents. Like most genes, hemoglobin genes are inherited in two sets…one from each parent.

  Examples:

  ·         If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other is Normal, all of the children will have sickle cell trait.

  ·         If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other has Sickle Cell Trait, there is a 50% chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy.

  ·         When both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, they have a 25% chance (1 of 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy.

  “Excerpts from the Sickle Cell disease association incorporated website”

  So why am I talking about this disease because it homes for many African American families in some sort of why. It is not a Black disease but it seems to be highly common or discuss about in our culture. It is a real disease that is not health maintain can be deadly. There is a lot that a family has to be very knowledgeable with the Sickle Cell Disease. I do not have the sickle cell disease but I do have the sickle trait and so do two of my children. Fortunately for us my husband does not have the trait. I have a dear friend, Tamara whose son has the sickle cell disease.  Fortunate for him mom became very educated on this disease when it was announced that her son had the disease. Although she knew from a young that she had the sickle cell trait, her mate did not know; if he did it could have been easier for the family. Her son is very healthy now but when he comes across a cold or gets a fever he has to be immediately rushed to the hospital for observation. She often tells me that with good eating habits her son can live a long and prosperous life.  

  What can we do as a community?

  My Message to all is get tested, find out it f you have the trait or if your spouse does as well. Get educated on this disease because it is out there. 

  Please find it in your heart to donate to your local sickle cell office or participate in various sickle cell walks across the US. It is very important.

   

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  • sickle cell
  • walk
  • get tested
  • What is it
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Comments

Tina Fortune 9/14/2009 5:29 PM UTC Great show topic! I had an aunt with the trait and never thought about having my children tested or being tested myself. Thank you for educating the community!

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