Sickle_Cell_Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia i. Can You Live A Long Life With Sickle Cell Anemia' Know the “Do’s & Don’ts”. Brianna White Biology 2010 Professor Burton April 15, 2009 Sickle Cell Anemia ii. Abstract Sickle Cell Anemia is a life-long inherited disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. People who have are born with it, but by knowing what it is, how you got it, symptoms, and how to cope with it, you could possibly live a long, healthy life with no complications. This paper shows all that above and some more. It tells all about sickle cell and what some researchers have found that could possibly cure it one day. But for right now there is only one medicine that can actually help people live normal lives with sickle- cell anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia 1 Can You Live A Long Life With Sickle Cell Anemia' Know the “Do’s & Don’ts”. Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited, lifelong disease, in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. People who have sickle cell anemia are born with it. They inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene, one from each parent. With that being said, now days you to watch who you marry or who you have a child with because your child could possibly end up with a life- long disease, Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle (2009) Cell Anemia affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States, the disease affects about 70,000 people, mainly African Americans. When hearing about the sickle cell disease some think, “Well why is it called that anyway.” Sickle- shaped means that the blood cells are shaped like a “c”. Normal red blood cells are disc shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the center which means, they move easily through your blood vessels. Red blood cells contain abnormal hemoglobin that causes the cells to have a sickle shape. Sickle-shaped cells don’t move easily Sickle Cell Anemia 2 through your blood vessels. They are stiff and sticky and tend to form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels. Other cells can block blood flow in the vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections, and organ damage. Signs and symptoms of sickle cell vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have very severe symptoms and often are hospitalized for treatment. Although sickle cell is present at birth, many infants don’t show any signs until after four months of age. The most common signs and symptoms are linked to the disease’s complications. The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue. Other (2006) signs include: shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, chest pain. Sudden pain throughout the body is a common symptom of sickle cell. This pain is called a “sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell crisis often affect the bones, lungs, abdomen, and joints. Early diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is very important. Children who have the disease need prompt and proper treatment. In the United States, all states mandate Sickle Cell Anemia 3 testing for sickle cell as a part of the newborn screening program. The test uses blood from the samples used for routine newborn screening test, to decide whether the child has sickle cell anemia or just a sickle cell trait. Sickle cell had widely available cure. However, treatments can help relieve symptoms and treat complications. Hydroxyurea is the only approved medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease in adults. According to the US Department of Health (2009), goals of treating sickle cell are to relieve pain, prevent infections, eye damage, and strokes, and control complications. Bone marrow transplants may offer a cure in a small number of sickle cell cases. Researchers continue to look for new treatments for the disease. With good health care, many people who have sickle cell can live productive lives. They also have reasonably good health much of the time and live longer than in the past. Many people who have sickle cell anemia now live long lives. Along with healthy lifestyle habits, you can take other steps to prevent and control painful sickle cell Sickle Cell Anemia 4 Crises. A number of factors can cause sickle cell crises. Knowing how to avoid or control these factors can help you manage your pain. Over the past 30 years, doctors have learned a great deal about sickle cell anemia. They know its causes, how it affects the body, and how to treat many of its complications. Sickle cell anemia varies from person to person. Some people who have the disease have chronic pain or fatigue, and others don’t. However, with proper care and treatment, many people who have the disease are living till the forties and fifties.