The genetic defect that causes sickle cell anemia affects hemoglobin, which is a component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin’s job is to carry oxygen to all the cells and tissues of the body. Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are soft and round. The soft texture enables them to squeeze through the body’s small blood vessels. People with sickle cell anemia have a type of abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Normal hemoglobin is called hemoglobin A. A genetic error makes the hemoglobin molecules stick together in long, rigid rods after they release oxygen. When these rods cause the red blood cells to become to hard and sickle shaped, it’s like having mini-heart attacks throughout the entire body.

A heart attack is painful because the blood flow to the heart interrupts. In sickle cell anemia, the blood flow

The overall incidence is eight out of one hundred thousand people. It is more common in some populations, affecting one out of one thousand to fourteen hundred Hispanic Americans. Because people with sickle trait are more likely to survive malaria outbreaks in Africa than those with normal hemoglobin. Although this disease is inherited and present at birth, symptoms usually do not occur until after four months of age. Sickle cell anemia may become life threatening when damaged red blood cell breakdown or bone marrow fails to produce blood cells. Those painful crisis that occur in seventy percent of patients, can last hours to days, and affect the bones of the back and the chest. (9)

Sickle cell is prevalent among many nationalities, including African Americans, Arabs, Greeks, Italians, Latin Americans, and East Indians. Caucasians also have sickle cell disease or trait. (5)

There are many complications from the sickle cells blocking blood flow and early breaking apart; there are painful episodes, strokes, increased infections, leg ulcers, yellow eyes, or jaundice early gallstones, lung blockage, loss of body water in urine, painful erections in men, blood blockage in spleen or liver, eye damage, low red blood cell counts (anemia), and delayed growth. (8)

The purpose of therapy is to mange and control symptoms resulting from crisis. During the crisis, bed rest is recommended to reduce energy expenditure and oxygen needs. Maintaining adequate oxygen levels prevents the acidosis, which causes sickling. Blood transfusions are given for symptomatic or serve anemia, for low oxygen accompanying acute chest syndrome, and for prevention of recurrent strokes. It is possible for patients to become addicted to the narcotics used to treat painful episodes. Patients with sickle cell are not more likely to become addicted than other patients taking analgesics for common pain. There are specific treatments available for the complications of sickl

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