 |
| Healthy Lifestyle Changes |
In spite of not being a cure for Sickle Cell
Anemia, lifestyle changes play an irreplaceable role in your overall wellness
and treatment of the condition. This helps to reduce how severe and frequent you
experience sickle cell crisis.
Eat a
Balanced Diet
Before I mention what makes what you eat balanced,
let’s not forget adding Folic Acid Supplements. Healthy foods are perfect for overall
health. They assist your body to combat infections. Folic acid enhances the
making of red blood cells which reduces the impact of anemia. As a SCD patient,
you need a higher amount of macro and micronutrients unlike the general
population. Take it in form of a balanced diet alongside a healthy serving.
Also include 35% energy intake via plant-based protein as prescribed by your
doctor.
Drink a Lot
of Water
If your body consists of low levels of fluid,
your blood cells may clump together much easily and cause a sickle cell crisis.
To avoid such a problem, drink at least 7 to 8 full glasses of water every day
especially in hot weather.
Sufficient water helps to improve your health
significantly. Avoid leaving your body dehydrated because that only heightens
your risk of a sickle cell crisis. Besides drinking plenty of water, I take
soups, herbal teas, homemade veggies and fruit juices. The list also includes
broths and coconut water.
Avoid
Excessive Exercise
Engaging in physical activity including exercise
is great for health. However, strenuous activity is harmful to SCD patients
because it can lower the amount of oxygen that helps body organs to function (shortness
of breath). This can also make your risk of a sickle cell crisis much higher.
Remember to discuss with your doctor about the
kind of exercise that is safe and works for you. Doctors mostly recommend
low-to-moderate intensity exercise alongside hydrating, hydrating, hydrating!
Get Lots of
Rest
Whether sick or not, everyone needs ample time to
rest and recover. Rest improves your health and your body's ability to combat
infections and most notably in SCD patients.
In case of a sickle cell crisis, know when to
call a doctor and the symptoms that can warrant such medical care. For example,
if you experience a fever of up to 101°F (38.5°C) or higher, call a doctor.
Avoid
Physical and Emotional Stress
Being physically and emotionally stressed is
likely to trigger a sickle cell crisis. So, endeavor to avoid stress at all
costs. Relaxation skills are also helpful.
Consider a
Support Group
Having a long term ailment can be quite
stressful. But with support groups, you can get significant help in the form of
learning coping skills from people with sickle cell disease.
Avoid All
That Worsens the Condition or Causes Infection
Examples of a harmful lifestyle that can
aggravate your condition or crisis or lead to infection include consuming:
- · Cocaine
- . Tobacco
- · Methamphetamines
- · Alcohol
Examples of
Possible Infections Include:
Being infected by Salmonella, which is bacteria
that can cause illness. To lower the risk, practice the following:
·
Don’t keep snakes, turtles or lizards as pets
·
Cook chicken and eggs thoroughly before eating
Bottom line
As a person with sickle cell disease working hard
to improve your health, always remember that your health depends on your
lifestyle and closeness to your healthcare provider.
I hope you’ve learned from this post. Please read
other suzzymuketips for more life-changing articles to help you live a much
healthier life.
0 Comments