Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle Cell Anemia Intro
Sickle cell anemia is a chronic, usually fatal anemia marked by sickle-shaped red blood cells, occurring almost exclusively in Black people of Africa or of African descent. Sickle cell anemia is the most common genetic disease in the world, and is most common in people whose families came from Africa, south or central America ( especially panama). Also in Caribbean islands and mediterranean countries.
The daily life of Sickle cell anemia
Sickle cell symptoms an blood cells.
What is the cause of sickle cell anemia?
People who have the disease inherit two genes for sickle cell anemia gets one from each parent. People who inherit a sickle cell anemia gene from one parent and a normal gene from the other parent have a condition called sickle cell trait. People who have sickle cell trait can pass the sickle cell anemia gene to their children. Patients with sickle cell disease have a mutation in a gene on chromosome 11 that codes for the beta subunit of the hemoglobin protein.
How the disease gets passed through genes
Treatments and possible cures for Sickle cell anemia.
The goal of treatment is to manage and control symptoms, and to limit the number of crises. Patients with sickle cell disease need ongoing treatment, even when they are not having a painful crisis. It is best to receive care from health care providers and clinics that take care of many patients with sickle cell anemia. Folic acid supplements should be taken. Folic acid is needed to make new red blood cells.
Interesting facts about sickle cell anemia!
- These red blood cells contain hemoglobin S cells that become crescent shaped and therefore cannot pass properly through small blood vessels.
- sickled cells can get stuck and block blood vessels, which stops the oxygen from getting through.
- A simple blood test will check your Hemoglobin for the Sickle Cell (AS) trait. In this trait more Hemoglobin A are produced than Hemoglobin S in red blood cells
- Millions of people are infected with Sickle Cell worldwide, and in the United States alone it affects over 70,000 Americans