PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 people in the United States and more than 3 million Americans carry the gene.
People with sickle cell have abnormal sickle-shaped red blood cells and this causes a wide variety of symptoms including chronic pain. Over the years, physicians have tried to help patients with severe pain using a wide variety of treatments.
A new article in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests a biopsychosocial approach, which is designed to help people figure out what is triggering their pain, and includes a personalized approach to treating it. Perhaps the most important aspect of the treatment is how respect and compassion are stressed at all times and in all care settings.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
