Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Normal red blood cells are round like doughnuts, and they move through small blood tubes in the body to deliver oxygen. Sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles used to cut wheat. When these hard and pointed red cells go through the small blood tube, they clog the flow and break apart. This can cause pain, damage and a low blood count, or anemia. There is a substance in the red cell called hemoglobin that carries oxygen inside the cell. One little change in this substance causes the hemoglobin to form long rods in the red cell when it gives away oxygen. These rigid rods change the red cell into a sickle shape instead of the round shape. Hemoglobin is an iron protein compound in red blood cells that gives blood its red color and transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide. It also carries oxygen from the lungs to the body cells. Anemia is a Greek term for “bloodlessness,” a blood condition involving an abnormal reduction in the number of red blood cells or in their hemoglobin content. People with anemia have less red blood cells or excessive blood loss. You inherit the abnormal hemoglobin from
12. eye damage or blindness- tiny blood vessels that feed your eyes can get plugged with sickle cells. Over time this can damage the retina and lead to blindness. 13. low red blood cell counts (anemia) 6. jaundice-yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs because of liver damage or dysfunction. Occasionally people with sickle cell anemia have some jaundice because the liver is overtaken by the rapid breakdown of red blood cells. In people with dark skin, jaundice is most visible in the yellowing of the eyes. Each of these can cause sickle pain episodes and complications. All may have an increase in child hemoglobin, which may protect the red cell from sickling and help prevent complications.
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Cell Disease,
Anemia Greek,
MF Herrick’s,
Shortness Breath,
sickle cell,
Hb SC-,
Anemia Association,
Hemoglobin SC,
Herrick Irons,
Ernest Irons,
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Approximate Word count = 1507
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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