The Vitamin SC3 podcast is a new sickle cell-centered podcast. The podcast will share various sickle cell stories made up of 4 different segments: The Creative Elixir with Mia Robinson, Caring is Giving with Elle Cole, Essential RX hosted by Dr. Lametra Scott, and Self-care is Healthcare hosted by Dr. Marjorie Brewer. Each theme will give you more insights into the real lives of sickle cell Warriors and their families. You will learn why we are bonded by blood with shared life experiences.   Abstract source

The Potters’ Smile is a  501c3 tax exempt non-profit organization dedicated to educating individuals with Sickle Cell Disease about the importance of maintaining good dental health. With your support, we will provide dental education and access to dental treatment. Enhancing the smiles of those with Sickle Cell Disease and their overall dental health will enhance their quality of life. “A beautiful smile is the essence of the soul!”   The goal of the organization is to promote basic and translational research necessary in the dental community and support initiatives to increase community participation in dental research and dental treatment for the Sickle Cell Community. Basic and clinical dental research efforts are important to expanding the knowledge of how Sickle Cell Disease and the Sickle Cell Trait affects the dental and the pathophysiology of Sickle Cell Disease.  This knowledge will help to ensure awareness and proper dental treatment for patients with Sickle Cell Disease and the Sickle Cell Trait.   Official website

In this episode Dr. Scott and Dr. Botchwey discuss bone pain and Sickle Cell Disease. The conversation mainly centered around understanding how osteonecrosis occurs and how researches are learning that more treatment options exist. Today's show is brought to you by the Essential RX segment with Dr. Lametra Scott. Her guest today is Dr. Edward Botchway. He is an Associate Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University.   Related story

The VitaminSC3 Podcast is powered by the Sickle Cell Community Consortium. Today's show is brought to you by the Creative Elixir segment with Mia Robinson. Mia's creative guest today is LaShaunta McAllister. LaShaunta McAllister is a wife, mom, and Sickle Cell Warrior. Born in Albany Ga and raised in Dekalb County Lithonia, Ga, she is the middle child of three. Throughout her life, LaShaunta thought she had Sickle Cell Hb SS, but recently, doctors informed her that she has Hb Beta Thalassemia.   Related story

The VitaminSC3 Podcast is powered by the Sickle Cell Community Consortium. Today's show is brought to you by the Caring is Giving segment with Elle Cole. Today's conversation touches on marriage, unconditional support, loving someone with a chronic illness, and relocation. Aniekan is the Co-founder and CFO of Sickle Cell Medical Advocacy Inc. He is the husband of Simone Uwan, MD. Aniekan has a background in Project Management. His professional skills were honed while working at Google as a Senior Project Specialist overseeing international projects. His Accounting skills were also a welcomed asset. He has exceptional relationship-building skills and is a keen problem solver. Today, Aniekan spoke to us on the VitaminSC3 Podcast about the love of his life, Dr. Simone, and how he cares for her.   Related story

Sickle cell disease (SCD) can affect many areas, including daily life, and some of the effects can be lifelong. More so, SCD impacts many patients’ quality of life in depression, anxiety, executive function, and more. With thanks in part to Bluebird Bio for making this series possible, and in partnership with The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, OffScrip Health presents “The Sickle,” a three-part limited series for patients, caregivers, and community members facing the disease. Throughout each episode, you will hear from the people living with SCD and experts who work every day to improve their lives. We’ll learn about the lifelong care, interpersonal relationships, and medical disparities that people with SCD live with and what we can do to improve them.   Related story

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells may become sickle-shaped and hardened. For a baby to be born with sickle cell disease, both parents must carry a sickle cell trait or genes for hemoglobin like HbC, HbE, or beta-thalassemia. Sickle cell disease is not contagious, and there is no universal cure. The SCD Facts: • About 1 in 13 African Americans carry the sickle cell trait, and many do not know they have it. • An estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. have SCD. • Approximately 2,000 babies are born with SCD annually in the U.S. • On average, diagnosis is made at birth. • People of many ethnic backgrounds can have SCD. • Latinos have the second most common incidence in the U.S. • Donate blood to support transfusions.   Abstract source

Living with sickle cell disease (SCD) can be hard. Complications including pain, anemia, acute chest syndrome, and silent organ damage can occur anywhere in your body, at any time, and without warning. One of the most common complications is sudden and intense pain. Pain in SCD is usually caused by the sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking blood flow through the tiny blood vessels throughout your body. The abnormal shape is due to a different form of hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein) in sickled red blood cells. Usually, with normal hemoglobin, red blood cells are round, soft and flexible. Due to the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, red blood cells in SCD are stiff and shaped like a sickle (a farm tool) or a crescent moon. These red blood cells don’t flow easily through your body. They can get stuck in the blood vessels and block oxygen from getting to your tissues. That can cause pain, which is commonly felt in the back, chest, hands and feet.   Abstract source

The chronic and potentially debilitating nature of SCD can pose significant challenges for the inpatient management of this patient population. A multidisciplinary hospital team comprised of hospitalists, hematologists, case management, social workers, nursing, and pharmacy must work together collaboratively to improve outcomes for these patients. Patients with SCD face physical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic challenges. Chronic pain with acute painful episodes is a prominent feature of SCD and opiate therapy is a mainstay of treatment, though there is often stigma for patients with SCD who rely on opioids. Given the chronic and recurrent nature of SCD, patient-centered care plans can be used to facilitate judgment-free and efficient care. Because of the complex nature of the disease and the likelihood of readmission to the hospital, there is an opportunity to improve transitions of care for patients with SCD. The patient’s objectives should be considered to create better outcomes.   Abstract source

CDC, together with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), created the Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit. The toolkit is a collection of resources to increase understanding of sickle cell traits.   • Blood in Your Urine? Don’t Delay, See Your Healthcare Provider Today immediately • Sickle Cell Trait and Hematuria: Information for Healthcare Providers • Sickle Cell Trait and Damage to the Spleen: Get the Facts • Sickle Cell Trait and Splenic Infarct: Information for Healthcare Providers • Eye Problems and Sickle Cell Trait: Learn How You Can Help Protect Your Vision • Sickle Cell Trait and Glaucoma Post-Hyphema: Tips to Protect Your Patient’s Vision • Fact Sheet: What You Should Know About Sickle Cell Trait • Fact Sheet: Get Screened to Know Your Sickle Cell Status • Infographic: Get Screened for Sickle Cell Trait • Fact Sheet: What You Should Know About Diabetes Tests if You Have Sickle Cell Trait • Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell Trait and Diabetes Tests: What Every Healthcare Provider Should Know • Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell Trait and Blood, Organ, and Tissue Donation: Yes You Can • Fact Sheet: Athletes: Don’t get sidelined by sickle cell trait! Play it safe with these helpful tips • Fact Sheet: Coaches: Don’t let your athletes get sidelined by sickle cell trait! Help them play it safe with these helpful tips • Fact Sheet: Team Doctors (trainers): Don’t let your athletes get sidelined by sickle cell trait! Help them play it safe with these helpful tips   Abstract source