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, which is an abnormal hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. When sickle shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that do not receive adequate amounts of blood eventually become damaged. This causes complications with the disease and there is currently no cure. This disease occurs in high frequency in African Americans and Hispanics, but can occur in people of all ethnicities.
Sickle Cell Trait is an inherited condition in which both hemoglobin A (produced in normal red blood cells) and S are produced in the red blood cells. There are always more hemoglobin A produced than S. Sickle cell trait is not a type of sickle cell disease. People with sickle cell trait are generally healthy.
Causes
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.
How Do I Know If I Have the Trait?
A simple blood test followed by a lab technique called hemoglobin electrophoresis will determine the type of hemoglobin you have.
Treatment
Treatment begins with early detection and includes a variety of medications to prevent against various bacteria, and supplementation of folic acid, which without can complicate the disease. Treatment of any complications often includes antibiotics and pain management, intravenous fluids, blood transfusions and surgery all backed by psychosocial support.
SPORTS PRECAUTIONS AND TREATMENT
• Build up slowly with paced progressions
• Encourage participation in preseason strength and conditioning programs to enhance preparedness (exclude from performance tests such as the mile run and serial sprints)
• Stop any activity that brings on any symptoms such as muscle cramping and inability to catch breath
• Let a sickle cell athlete set their own pace
• Adjust work/rest cycles for environmental heat stress
• Emphasize hydration
• Control asthma
• No workout if a sickle cell athlete is ill
• Have supplemental oxygen available during activity
• Educate to create an environment that encourages as athlete with sickle cell disease or trait to report any symptoms immediately
IN THE EVENT OF A SICKLING COLLAPSE
• CHECK VITALS
• ADMINISTER OXYGEN AS DIRECTED
• CALL 911