Nutrition and diet expert Dr. Ian Smith, guru of the online “50 Million Pound Challenge” and a regular on Vh1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” will be in St. Louis on Saturday, April 24 to kick off his national “Be Sickle Smart” empowerment campaign.
“I really want to get out front and let people know that, 1) that there is an acknowledgement that this illness does exist; 2) there is help for people; 3) there are things that can be done so people have more control of what their health destiny is and 4) to make people understand that there’s hope,” Smith said.
“Be Sickle Smart” is a free public event to educate persons with sickle cell anemia and their families about sickle-cell-related issues and particularly on a less-talked about, but serious condition that can develop after multiple blood transfusions, called “iron overload.”
“If you have iron overload, it’s almost like having rust in your organs, and it can cause all kinds of complications, including diabetes, organ damage, sexual dysfunction, heart failure, and increased pain,” Smith explained.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder primarily of African Americans which affects the normally round, pliable blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body to become “C” shaped and rigid. These cells collect and don’t move though the blood vessels properly, causing oxygen deprivation and excruciating painful episodes, known as sickle cell crises; and can cause strokes.
Sickle cell anemia patients receive blood cell transfusions as a treatment.
“While blood cell transfusions are important and very helpful in managing the disease, everything has a complication; one of them could be getting too much iron in your system,” Smith said.
Smith said he wants people with sickle cell or caregivers to those with sickle cell disease to come out, get tested, get educated and get empowered.
“We want to screen people and see where their serum ferritin – where their blood iron levels are currently and hopefully get them encouraged to do proper follow-up, because its very important to follow where your iron levels are if you receive multiple transfusions,” Smith said. He said there are different treatments for iron overload, including chelation therapy, which binds the iron to get it out of the body.
Smith and his team will be at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel, located at 1335 South Lindbergh Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be free screenings and other activities.
Smith said he will also give away free copies of his latest book, “Happy – Simple Steps to Get the Most out of Life,” to the first 75 people who get screened for iron overload.
St. Louis is the first stop on the “Be Sickle Smart” 14-to-16 city nationwide tour.
For more information, go to www.BeSickleSmart.com.
