Health News

Sickle Cell Trait Improved by Regular Exercise
Regular physical activity benefits the body in many ways, from weight loss to improved blood pressure. Those with the sickle cell trait might find an added benefit -- longevity and fewer complications. Unlike sickle cell disease, a painful inherited condition in which red blood cells are an abnormal crescent shape, those with the sickle cell trait inherit only one copy of the disease and have a mixture of normal and misshapen red blood cells. They tend to suffer from an increased risk of sickness and higher death rate. Ask your doctor about exercise if you suffer from sickle cel...
FDA Green Lights Anemia Drug Omontys
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have approved Omontys ( peginesatide ), a drug administered through monthly injections to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Taking the Guesswork out of Sickle Cell
For some patients, sickle cell disease is a debilitating disease full of painful complications. Until recently it was tough to identify which patients were at risk for the most serious complications.
Transfusions After Birth Don't Help Much
Women who lose a lot of blood while giving birth may end up with acute postpartum anemia. A blood transfusion can help them feel a little less tired but may not be necessary.
Sickle Cell Prevention Key to Stroke Reduction
In the late 1990s there was a striking disparity among the number of black children who died of stroke as compared to white children. Black children were 74 percent more likely to die of a stroke, because of the higher prevalence of sickle cell anemia in that population.
Anemia After Stroke Equals Bad News
Following a stroke, suffering from anemia could prove to be a fatal combination. Stroke survivors who suffer from anemia are nearly three times more likely to die the first year after a stroke.
Fewer Blood Transfusions Needed After Surgery
Blood transfusions during surgery are common, especially for elderly patients. Doctors say the problem is they may be too common.
Drug Cuts Pain in Sickle Cell Infants
A sickle cell anemia treatment may benefit infants as young as nine months old by reducing their level of pain from the disease. It also could reduce the need for blood transfusions and cut the rate of hospital admission.
Silent Stroke Causes Found Among Sickle Cell Kids
Silent stroke may be the most common form of brain injury in children with sickle cell anemia, a rare, painful blood disorder. Recently, researchers have been able to pinpoint the risk factors for such strokes in children.
Discovering Sickle Cell Therapies
For sickle cell disease patients, even everyday events can be difficult because of debilitating pain episodes and chronic organ damage.  A trigger for producing normal red blood cells could lead to a treatment.