Sickle cell in the summertime has a very different feeling to victims than it does in other seasons. Although some people may be spending these hot summer months relaxing outdoors or swimming at beaches, individuals with sickle cell tend to experience “crisis” episodes. These episodes happen when some of the sickled blood cells rise and block small blood vessels, which decreases blood flow and oxygen delivery to organs and bone marrow.
The condition is as bad as it sounds and is the leading cause of hospital admissions among people with the disease. Crisis episodes are the most crippling manifestation of the disease. Although sickle cell victims suffer year round, the summer brings out a more intense form of the illness. Crisis episodes are described as “severely debilitating pain: sharp, intense, stabbing, throbbing and more uncomfortable than post surgical pain or even child birth.”
Crisis episodes can occur at any time without warning and especially in the summer.
Dedicated patient advocates such as Tosin Ola have helped raise awareness of summer triggers and the sickle cell disease. As a BSN and an RN, Ola has partnered with Mast Therapeutics to help increase awareness for the disease. Ola is also a victim of the disease herself and chooses to help others through her online patient community support group called “Sickle Cell Warriors.” She currently has more than 18,000 followers.
Through her research and own personal experience, Ola has explored triggers for the crisis episode. Summer crisis triggers include dehydration, exposure to cold pool water, extreme hot weather, extreme cold air conditioning, vacation air travel (e.g., high altitude) and strenuous outdoor sports without frequent breaks to rest and hydrate.
Sickle cell has proved to be deadly. Forty percent of people who have the disease sometimes experience acute chest syndrome, which can be fatal. However, patient advocates such as Ola and programs they support make the fight against sickle cell a little bit easier.