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MySickleCellTeam •

Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: What Helps Day to Day | MySickleCellTeam

Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell DiseaseUnlike a pain crisis, which usually comes on suddenly, chronic pain can linger or return regularly between pain episodes. Your healthcare provider may consider your pain to be chronic if it continues regularly for at least six months.Sometimes, chronic pain has a clear cause. Complications of SCD, such as leg ulcers or avascular necrosis (bone tissue damage caused by reduced blood supply), can cause ongoing pain. Chronic back pain in SCD can occur when reduced...
MySickleCellTeam •

Acute Chest Syndrome and Sickle Cell: A Medical Emergency Explained | MySickleCellTeam

Chest pain, trouble breathing, or fever can be worrying when you have sickle cell disease (SCD) or care for a child with the condition. You may wonder if it’s an infection that will pass, a pain crisis, or a serious complication like acute chest syndrome (ACS).Although ACS responds well to timely treatment, it can still be life-threatening. In fact, ACS is the most common cause of death in people with SCD. Younger children are more likely to develop ACS, but adults can develop it too. About half...
MySickleCellTeam •

Sickle Cell Pain Crisis: Symptoms, Triggers, and Relief | MySickleCellTeam

If you’re living with sickle cell disease (SCD) and develop intense pain, you may be having a sickle cell pain crisis. Unlike chronic (ongoing) pain, which occurs on most days, a pain crisis can start suddenly and may require medical care.If this feels familiar, you may already know how difficult it can be to decide whether to seek care, especially if your pain hasn’t always been taken seriously. It may help to understand what a pain crisis is, what can help you get through one, and when to get...
MySickleCellTeam •

Can White People Get Sickle Cell Disease? Race and Ancestry Explained | MySickleCellTeam

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is often thought of as a condition that only affects Black people. That isn’t true. Although SCD disproportionately affects Black people, anyone can inherit the gene variants that cause the disease, according to the journal International Orthopaedics.So does race determine who gets SCD? Not exactly. Ancestry can affect the likelihood, but it can’t tell you whether you actually have it.Here’s a closer look at who’s most likely to have SCD, how ancestry affects risk, and...
MySickleCellTeam •

Sickle Cell Disease Gallstones: Why They Happen | MySickleCellTeam

If you’re living with sickle cell disease (SCD) and have suddenly started having abdominal pain, gallstones could be behind this new symptom. With SCD, though, abdominal pain can have more than one cause. It’s important to find out what’s causing it and get the appropriate medical care.Even if you’ve had your pain dismissed or questioned by healthcare providers before, abdominal pain can have different causes and deserves careful evaluation. It may help to understand why gallstones are more comm...
MySickleCellTeam •

Leg Ulcers in Sickle Cell Disease | MySickleCellTeam

A sickle cell leg ulcer can add another challenge when you’re managing other symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD). When a wound develops, you may not know whether you should be worried, whether you can manage it at home, or when to seek care.Seeking care can be difficult if your chronic pain or other concerns have been dismissed before. Whether you’re living with SCD or caring for a child with the condition, it’s important to know how to care for a sickle cell leg ulcer, manage pain, and find s...
MySickleCellTeam •

Types of Sickle Cell Disease: HbSS, HbSC, and Others | MySickleCellTeam

Sickle cell disease (SCD) isn’t just one condition. It includes several types, based on the specific gene variants a person inherits. Knowing the type can help you better understand possible symptoms, complications, and treatment options.But finding that information may not always be simple. People who were diagnosed years ago may not have easy access to their medical records, or they may never have had their specific type clearly explained to them. This article covers the different types of SCD...
MySickleCellTeam •

Sickle Cell Disease Complications and Related Conditions | MySickleCellTeam

Complications from sickle cell disease (SCD) can affect many parts of daily life. They may interfere with sleep, energy, school or work, family responsibilities, relationships, finances, and mental health.Complications are health problems caused directly by SCD, while related conditions develop over time from the disease’s long-term effects or its treatments. This article covers the most common SCD complications, how they can affect your daily life, and why regular monitoring is important.Sickle...
Healthline •

Protective Hairstyles: Types, Benefits, and Finding a Stylist

Protective hairstyles are styles that help keep your hair tucked away and reduce daily styling. Many people use them to support length retention, reduce breakage, and simplify their hair care routine.These styles have been popular throughout Black and African history, carrying cultural significance for many people in these communities. People with tightly coiled hair often use them to help protect their hair from heat styling, friction, and environmental stressors like sun, wind, and humidity.Wh...
Healthline •

Massage gun: Uses, benefits, and risks

To use a massage gun, start on a low setting and move it slowly over the muscle, avoiding heavy pressure. Short, gentle sessions help reduce tension safely.A massage gun is a handheld device that delivers fast pulses to the muscles, which may help ease tension and improve blood flow. Many people use it before or after exercise or when they feel tight or sore. Knowing how to use a massage gun safely is crucial, as excessive pressure or targeting the wrong areas can cause discomfort. In most cases...
States of Mind •

Discover New Therapy For PTSD: Innovative Treatments

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may develop after a person lives through or witnesses a traumatic experience. It can affect many areas of life, including emotional well-being, physical health, relationships, and day-to-day functioning. Over the past few decades, evidence-based therapies and medications have helped many people manage their PTSD symptoms. However, some people do not experience full relief, find certain treatments difficult to tolerate, or co...
Healthgrades •

What is the Effect of Alcohol on Brain Function?

Alcohol affects brain function by changing how brain cells communicate. It alters neurotransmitters that regulate mood, memory, judgment, coordination, and behavior.


Short-term drinking can impair focus and decision making, while chronic or heavy alcohol use may lead to long-term changes in brain structure, cognitive function, and mental health.







Alcohol is a depressant that slows activity in the central nervous system (CNS). Alcohol has chemical effects, which ca...
States of Mind •

How To Beat Burnout And Recover From It Without Quitting Your Job

Burnout develops when a person becomes physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted over time as a result of chronic stress. A person who’s experiencing burnout may present with persistent fatigue, loss of motivation at work, increased irritability, or a sense of disconnection from a job that was once very important to them.


When this happens, it’s common to wonder whether job burnout is a good reason to quit or ask yourself, “Should I quit my job if I feel burned out?” For most people, th...
Healthline •

A Guide to Birth Control Interactions: What You Need to Know

Birth control interactions occur when medications or supplements affect how well contraception works or increase side effects. These interactions vary depending on the type of birth control you use.Certain medications and supplements can interact with birth control. Some may make hormonal methods less effective, while others can increase side effects such as dizziness, headaches, or mood changes.These interactions can vary depending on the type of birth control you use, such as pills, patches, r...
Healthgrades •

Essential Oils and Memory: Research, Benefits, How to Use

Essential oils have long been used for many potential benefits. However, scientific research is still trying to confirm their safety and effectiveness for many popular uses — including physical and cognitive health.

Possibly. Some essential oils may offer small, short-term improvements in memory and attention. But research findings are mixed and not strong enough to confirm clear benefits. Some individuals in studies have reported mild memory improvements, whil...
States of Mind •

Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain

For many, chest pain often triggers immediate fear, and the first thing many think about when they experience chest pain is their heart. Though a heart condition doesn’t necessarily cause chest pain, it may also be linked to anxiety. Understanding how anxiety shows up in the body can make these experiences feel less confusing and less frightening. In this article, we walk through the connection between anxiety and chest pain, what chest pain from anxiety feels like, how it compares to heart atta...
States of Mind •

Stages Of Trauma Treatment And Recovery

Trauma can affect both the mind and body. Many people who have experienced a traumatic event report feeling overwhelmed by the various ways that their perceptions of themselves and the world around them have been altered. However, healing is possible and it often occurs through distinct stages or phases.


Understanding the stages of trauma healing can provide you with clarity about your feelings and reactions, help ease guilt and self-blame, and increase your ability to relate to your emotions...
Healthline •

EGPA vs. GPA: What's the Difference?

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) are rare autoimmune conditions affecting different organs. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, and Churg-Strauss is now known as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) as of 2010. They have distinct immune markers that help doctors differentiate them.EGPA and GPA are rare autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation in small and medium...
Healthline •

Understanding Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment and More

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare, non-hereditary condition that causes multiple noncancerous polyps in the digestive tract and changes in the skin, hair, and nails.Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare, nonhereditary condition that affects the digestive system and other parts of the body, including the skin, hair, and nails. It causes multiple noncancerous polyps in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can lead to severe diarrhea, malnutrition, and other complications if not treat...
Healthline •

A Complete Guide to Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy, also called somatic experiencing therapy, is a therapeutic approach that helps you process physical symptoms of trauma, abuse, or stress stored in the body.Somatic therapy can be helpful for the physical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, chronic pain, and other health conditions.It works by helping you access and release the effects of stress or trauma stored in the body, so you can process difficult emotions like shame, anger, grief, or guilt.Learn mor...
Healthline •

Medications for Concussion

Doctors may prescribe off-label medications such as amitriptyline, topiramate, or ondansetron to help treat concussion symptoms like headaches, sleep problems, and nausea.A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Treatment often focuses on rest and symptom relief, but it must always be managed by a healthcare professional.Currently, the FDA hasn’t approved any medications to treat concussions. Doctors may prescribe off-label options to ease symptoms such as headaches and sleep distur...
Healthline •

Can Over the Counter Medications Help You Sleep?

Anxiety can make it harder to fall or stay asleep. Over-the-counter sleep aids for anxiety in adults, such as melatonin, may help relieve symptoms and improve sleep quality.Supplement SafetyThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the same way it regulates medications. If you decide to take a vitamin or supplement, it’s best to choose products that have gone through independent third-party testing. This helps verify that the supplements contain what they say they do a...
Healthline •

What to Know About Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a type of talk therapy that helps individuals, couples, and families process difficult emotions and build healthier, more secure relationships.Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a form of talk therapy that helps people process difficult emotions, build self-awareness, and improve relationships with themselves and others.It guides you to notice and understand your feelings, then respond in healthier ways that rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and support ment...
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