Sickle-Cell Anemia
Knowing the facts
What is Sickle-Cell Anemia?
How does someone get this disorder?
Blood vessel
Visual of the sickle cells in the blood vessels
Where it occurs
Sickle-cell Anemia mostly affects people of African ancestry, but also occurs in other ethnic groups, including people who are of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent.
Blood vessel #2
The normal red blood cells vs. the sickle cell anemia
What happens when you have it/ Symptoms
Unlike normal Red blood cells that last about 4 months in the bloodstream, fragile sickle cells break down after only about 10 to 20 days, which usually causes Anemia. People with sickle cell anemia can also experience complications from impaired blood circulation and infection-fighting problems. These include a higher risk of certain infections and stroke as well as a condition called acute chest syndrome, which is caused by inflammation, infection, or occlusions (blockages) of blood vessels in the lungs by sickled cells. Sickle cell anemia is not contagious, so you can't catch it from someone else or pass it to another person like a cold or an infection.
Treatments to stay healthy
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
- Take medications, including folic acid supplements, as prescribed.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid extreme cold or heat.
- Exercise regularly, but in moderation. Exercise is important for staying healthy.
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, and smoking, which can aggravate sickle cell disease and its symptoms.
Bibliography
- http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/blood/sickle_cell_anemia.html#
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001554/
- http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sickle-cell-anemia/DS00324
- http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sickle-cell-disease-topic-overview
- http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/sicklecell/