Foods for Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a type of anemia caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the body. The abnormal type of hemoglobin, hemoglobin S., distorts the shape of the red blood cells, which damages the cells ability to transfer oxygen. Treatment for sickle cell anemia includes medication and folic acid supplements. Eating foods rich in folic acid such as beans and leafy green vegetables can also help prevent sickle cell anemia crises.
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Description
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Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary blood disease where red blood cells form an abnormal crescent shape instead of the normal disc shape. Individuals with sickle cell anemia experience painful episodes, referred to as crises in the medical community, that last for several hours or days. The number of crises varies by individuals. Some patients have an episode every few years while others have them yearly. In some instances, the crises symptoms are so severe the individual must be admitted to the hospital for treatment.
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Symptoms
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Common symptoms of sickle cell anemia include abdominal pain, bone pain, fatigue, fever, jaundice, pale skin, elevated heart rate, ulcers on the lower legs and delayed growth or puberty in teens. However, some patients also experience chest pain, excessive thirst, frequent urination, poor vision or blindness, strokes, skin ulcers and painful erection in men.
Treatment
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Preventative treatment for sickle cell anemia include medication and consumption of food or supplements containing folic acid. During a crises, patients may be given fluids, non-narcotic medication for the pain and blood transfusions. Additionally, bone marrow transplants can cure sickle cell anemia, though there are many risks to transplants such as infection, rejection and graft-vs.-host disease.
Folic Acid
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Folic acid, also called folate, is a B-complex vitamin, necessary for the development and production of red blood cells. Folate also helps prevent anemia, including sickle cell anemia, according to "The World's Healthiest Foods" by George Mateljan. Symptoms of folic acid deficiency include irritability, mental fatigue, depression, insomnia, muscle fatigue and gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Foods with Folic Acid
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Romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, parsley, greens such as collard, mustard or turnip, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, beans and lentils are all excellent sources of folic acid. Kelp (sea vegetable), celery, Brussel sprouts, summer squash, cucumbers, papaya, green beans, cabbage and bell peppers are also very good sources of folic acid. Leeks, peas, winter squash, tomatoes, oranges, mushrooms, strawberries, flax seeds, eggplants, kale, corn, peanuts, grapefruits, sunflower seeds, avocados and carrots also contain a good amount of folate.
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References
- Photo Credit "Blood Cells" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Andrew Mason (Andrew Mason) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
