preview

The Health Problem Of Interest

Decent Essays

Problem: Describe the health problem of interest. (2 paragraphs)

The health problem of interest is sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell Disease is also called Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder which means it 's not contagious. Anybody that has sickle cell disease, must have two defective hemoglobin genes from each parent. If a person has only one hemoglobin gene that is sickled and the other hemoglobin gene is normal the person will have the sickle cell trait. Hemoglobin is a molecule in the red blood cell that helps carry oxygen. There is an error in the hemoglobin that causes the cell to be sickled. This disease deforms the red blood cells shape from a disc like shape meaning the red blood cells are healthy to a crescent moon shape meaning that 's unhealthy. The one thing in common that people either have the disease or trait is they are immune from catching malaria.

In this disease the unhealthy sickled cells blockade the small arteries and veins which causes oxygen depletion to all the tissues and critical organs in the human body. The damaged tissues surrounding the veins and arteries causes infection, Congestive Heart Failure, Kidney Failure , Stroke, chronic anemia, Blood Clots and, Painful Episodes. This disease causes the increase of risk in a lot of health problems such as acute chest syndrome, leg ulcers, muscle pain, intracranial hemorrhages and, pulmonary hypertension. There are major warning signs of sickle cell

Get Access