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Sickle Cell Anemia Research Paper

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Sickle Cell Anemia
A Hereditary Disease
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the hemoglobin responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). This means that, unlike normal hemoglobin in which cells are smooth and round like the letter "O," that can pass through the vessels in our bodies with ease, sickle hemoglobin cells are rigid and form into the shape of a sickle, or the letter "C." The cells are also sticky and hence, cannot travel through small blood vessels. Consequently, they tend to cluster together and cause a blockage in the blood vessels and stop the movement of healthy oxygen-carrying blood.
Symptoms: The symptoms and signs of sickle cell disease …show more content…

If both parents have sickle cell disease, the child has a 100% chance of inheriting the disease. In essence, sickle cell disease are inherited and people at risk for inheriting the gene for sickle cell descend from people who are or were originally from Africa, parts of India and the Mediterranean.
The sickle cell gene also occurs in people from South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. In the United States, most people with sickle cell disease are of African ancestry or identify themselves as black. To buttress this point, Bennett (2006) argues that about 1 in 13 African American babies are born with sickle cell trait and about 1 in every 365 black children is born with sickle cell disease. There are also many people with this disease who come from Hispanic, southern European, Middle Eastern, or Asian …show more content…

According to Northern (2008), it is the most common reason for hospitalization in sickle cell disease. In general, the risk factors responsible for a sickle cell crisis is any activity that boosts the body's requirement for oxygen and known risk factors causing red blood cells to sickle include infection, lack of fluids, stressful situations, over exercising or activity, long periods of extreme temperature exposure and inadequate oxygenation.
Treatment, It is important to note that there have been no proven methods to prevent either sickle cell crisis or long-term complications of sickle cell disease. However, since these risk factors are modifiable (it can be reduced by certain interventions), health promotion and taking precautions can enhance a better quality of

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