Happy Valentine's Day
By Iyamide Thomas
iyamide.thomas@sicklecellsociety.org
Valentine’s Day is upon us! Did you know that Saint Valentine’s Day is named after a saint called Valentinus who it is said was imprisoned for performing weddings on soldiers forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians who were persecuted under the Roman Empire? Legend has it that he healed the daughter of his jailer and before his execution he wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her! By the 15th Century, 14 February had become associated with romance and the tradition of courtly love and had pretty much evolved to what happens now - an occasion when lovers (current or would-be!) express their love by presenting each other with flowers, chocolates, romantic gestures and cards known as ‘valentines’.
Why care about Type?
From the type of people we might be attracted to this Valentine’s Day to the way we look and behave, there’s a lot we inherit from our parents through genes, including our haemoglobin genotype. This tells you the two genes (i.e. codes) - one inherited from each parent - that determine your type of blood haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the substance in your blood that gives blood its red colour and carries oxygen around your body. The type of haemoglobin genes you inherit or pass on can play an important role in determining whether you or your children are affected by two serious inherited blood conditions – sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.
As Africans, many of us would have heard of sickle cell disease since it affects us more than any other ethnic group in the world. Sickle cell disease is a serious inherited blood condition that can cause severe pain, anaemia and organ damage. It also affects people who originate from the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. However, it is not a ‘Black’ disease and can affect ‘White’ people too, though less frequently. Out of the 15 million people estimated to have sickle cell worldwide, around 10 million live in Africa of which approximately 4 million are in Nigeria. In the UK an estimated 14,000 people have sickle cell disease and each year around 360 new babies are born with the condition.
Thalassaemia is a condition most common among people originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cyprus and China. People can inherit Beta Thalassaemia major which affects their ability to produce enough red blood cells. This causes severe anaemia and organ damage and they need to be on regular blood transfusions throughout life.
The usual and most common type of haemoglobin gene people inherit is Haemoglobin A. Unusual haemoglobin genes include Haemoglobin S (known as ‘sickle haemoglobin’), Haemoglobin C and beta thalassaemia. People can only get sickle cell or thalassaemia if they inherit two unusual genes for haemoglobin. People who inherit only one unusual gene are known as ‘carriers’ or ‘trait’. In the UK, 1 in 4 West Africans are sickle ‘carriers’ or ‘trait’.
This Valentine’s - be the perfect partner!
For Valentine’s, many people will establish new relationships or progress old ones and it is timely to raise awareness of these two inherited blood conditions so individuals can consider finding out their haemoglobin genotype as each time two ‘carriers’ have a baby, there is a 25% chance the baby could be born with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. A simple blood test will determine if you carry a gene for sickle cell or thalassaemia. In the UK, the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaema Screening Programme offers all pregnant women this blood test which is then offered to the father-to-be if the woman is found to be a carrier. Only 50% of these men are currently accepting their invitation for testing! You can ask your GP for this blood test at anytime in your life especially before you and your partner decide to start a family. You both can then discuss any risks and the choices that are right for you.
After the Valentine cards, chocolates and flowers are over, why not learn more about sickle cell and thalassaemia so you can make informed choices (about testing) if and when the need arises? By so doing, you just might be considered that perfect partner after all!
Useful Websites
A Sickle Cell Awareness event entitled: 'Sickle Cell Disease - the Family Legacy and Africanus Horton Story' holds at The Maroons Restaurant on Sunday 23 February at 3pm. Please see the link below for more details so you can register:
This Valentine’s Day make a difference to others and donate to the Sickle Cell Society by sending a text to 70070. In the body of the text, type our code CELL22, leave a space and then type the amount you want to donate (e.g. CELL22 £5.)
* Iyamide Thomas is the Regional Care Advisor, Sickle Cell Society UK