By Angela Onwuzoo
Medical experts have said patients living with sickle cell disease should not depend only on medication in managing the crisis associated with the disorder.
According to the experts, sickle warriors are trained on how to deal with the pain associated with the disease so they don’t find themselves on several drugs and at some point the body becomes dependent on the medication.
They noted that if not properly managed, sickle cell anaemia could lead to many complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, blindness, leg ulcers, and pregnancy complications, among others.
Sickle cell anemia, according to Mayo Clinic, is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
“There’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anaemia. Treatments can relieve pain and help prevent complications associated with the disease”, the clinic said.
According to a report from the World Health Organisation, 24 per cent of the Nigerian population are carriers of the mutant gene and the prevalence of sickle-cell anaemia is about 20 per 1,000 births.
A mental health therapist, Totuse Francis, PUNCH Heathwise that the treatment of sickle cell disease requires more than medication.
Totuse explained, “Parents and individuals living with SCD should not put all their hope in medication when dealing with crises associated with the disorder.
“The thing about dependency on medication is once the body gets used to it, and then it doesn’t work anymore, they increase the dosage and it goes on and on because the pain they experience is sometimes unexplainable.
“Sometimes the pain can make them feel like ending their own life when all the medications they take seem not to be sufficient to take away the pain.
“Another aspect of this kind of experience that they have is addiction. When it comes to the issue of drugs or drug addiction.”
On how to manage sickle cell crisis without medication, the therapist suggested, “There are different techniques in therapy to help sickle patients.
“There is psychotherapy, which is like talk therapy, there’s cognitive behavioural therapy, and there is just stop therapy. So there are different aspects or different techniques when it comes to therapy.
” We adapt the one that works well for the person. It is different from medication where only psychiatry is to recommend medication.”
Statistics from Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria indicate that over 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene, while over 150,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS).
This, according to the foundation, is by far the largest burden of the disorder anywhere in the world and most of these children would die in childhood from ignorance and lack of access to proper diagnosis and care.
A nutritionist and food scientist, Dolapo Coker, said nutrition is crucial to the management of sickle cell disease.
“Food is the major ingredient for wellness. The ingredients in the food contain micronutrients, vitamins, and enzymes. You must never have a favourite food.
“Eat a variety of foods because of the micronutrients available in the various kinds of foods.
“Don’t run away from oil and fats because some of the vitamins are in the oils and fats. So if you don’t get oil, you will be losing some of the vitamins. Water is life; drink enough water”, she counselled.
Also, an art therapeutic coach, Olayinka Enahoro, emphasized the need for counselling which she said helps patients interpret, express and resolve their emotions, thoughts and deep-seated mental health issues.
She noted that stress, which is one of the issues with SCD affects the body and mind, adding that it can also be reduced using art therapy.
“When we are over-stressed, our brain releases a hormone called cortisol and if you live a highly stressful life, cortisol starts running around in your body in excess and starts giving rise to all sorts of other things.
” The brain also releases hormones when viewing or creating art and its related expressions, and these hormones can help reduce the amount of cortisol in the body.
“They help to reduce stress, by extension, all the opportunistic ailments such as weight gain, depression, female fertility problems, digestive issues, erectile dysfunction/ low sex drive among others”, Enahoro said.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
