Sports trainers warn about sickle cell trait GARY MIHOCES, USA TODAY http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070814/NEWS01/708140312/1002/NEWS01
Devard Darling has the blood condition called sickle cell trait. So did his twin brother, Devaughn, who died during a 2001 offseason team workout while both were football freshmen at Florida State.
Now a fourth-year NFL wide receiver with the Baltimore Ravens, Devard welcomes a report issued Wednesday by the National Athletic Trainers' Association aimed at raising awareness of the condition and addressing how to manage it.
"We know what happened to my soul mate and twin brother. Anything I can do to prevent that and save lives, I'm all for it," he said in a phone interview.
The report was released in Anaheim, Calif., at NATA's annual convention. Darling participated in the news conference.
Echoing the NCAA position that the trait is "not a barrier to outstanding athletic performance," NATA says "no sickle trait athlete is ever disqualified, because simple precautions seem to suffice."
The sickle cell gene is inherited. NATA says it is most common in people (including one in 12 African-Americans) originating from malarial regions and that "over the millennia, carrying one sickle cell gene fended off death from malaria."
Sickle cell trait differs from the disease sickle cell anemia, in which two sickle cell genes are present. "It's typically a benign condition outside of an intense, sustained physical activity," said Scott Anderson, head athletic trainer at the University of Oklahoma and co-chairman of NATA's sickle cell task force. But the report says during exertion, sickle cells can change red blood cells from round to sickle-shaped, create a "logjam" in blood vessels and kill. NATA links "sickling" to the deaths of nine athletes in the past seven years, including five college football players.
One NATA guideline: Athletes with the trait should sit out Day 1 football conditioning tests such as mile runs and repeated sprints "because several deaths have occurred from participation" in such workouts. "There seems to be something peculiar about that," Anderson said.
While the report said all 50 states screen at birth for sickle cell, Anderson said athletes typically don't know if they have it when they arrive at the college level. The NATA report says a survey of NCAA Division I-A schools found 64 percent responding said they screened for sickle cell. Anderson said screening is vital.
Heat, dehydration, altitude and asthma can increase the risk or sickling, the report says. It recommends cessation of activity when symptoms such as cramping, pain, swelling and shortness of breath occur.
The medical examiner's report in Florida didn't specify a cause of death for Devaughn Darling. It noted sickle cell trait was present. "I believe it had some effect on him, definitely," Devard Darling said. "My teammates, who were there at the time, said he was saying he couldn't see, he was blacking out. Clearly, there were signs for him to stop. There was definitely room for coaches and athletic trainers to step in and say that's enough."
Devard said he's had no problems with the condition and has always done "all team activities." But, he added, "I know my body. It's important for young athletes as they grow to know their limitations. The No. 1 thing is staying hydrated. But there is a point at which you know something is not right. You need a little rest."
He added, "I'm sure it's not just me (participating in pro sports with sickle cell trait). They say one out of every 10 to 12 people of African descent carries the sickle cell trait. You know the high amount of African-Americans in pro sports."
Devaughn Darling collapsed during a rigorous team workout in February 2001. Afterward, Florida State withdrew clearance for Devard to play but offered to keep him on scholarship. He finished his college career at Washington State.
A Florida State University police investigation found the school's coaches and medical staff not responsible for the death. Last year, a judge approved a $2 million settlement between Florida State and the Darling family. The state paid $200,000, a limit set by state law. The family is petitioning the Florida Legislature for the rest. Devard has set up a foundation in his native Bahamas to support the brothers' "dream of bringing football home to the Bahamas and creating opportunities for young kids." The As One Foundation gets its name from the twins' hearts beating "as one" in the womb.
National Athletic Trainers Association Consensus Statement: Sickle Cell Trait and the Athlete http://www.nata.org/statements/consensus/sicklecell.pdf
now i don't actually know the answer to that, but here's an interesting fact. sickle cell anemia was actually a genetic mutation that africans developed in response to malaria. the shape of the cell prevents malaria. isn't that neat? it sucks because it causes other problems, but how amazing is the body!?
if u have had problems with sickle cell annemia in the past, u should talk to ur doctor about the risks. But, u could just be a carrier. There is a 75% chance that u are just a carrier, which means u have the trait, but it is hidden by the more dominant trait. If u are just a carrier, u dont have sickle cells, which means that is wouldn't matter. If u do have sickle cells, u would have a problem because during exercise, red blood cells have to move more oxygen faster than usual. If ur sickle cells are getting stuck and jammed in blood vessels, the oxygen cant move. This would cause ur muscles to stop working because lactic acid fermentation can only take u so far. but like the others said, talked to a professional. All i know is from a biology movie.