Sickle Cell Disease, or commonly referred to as Sickle Cell Anemia is a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels. Hemoglobin is a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. Sickle Cell Anemia has many other names including HbS disease, Hemoglobin S disease, and Hemoglobin SS disease. Those who carry the sickle cell trait do not suffer nearly as severely from the disease. Researchers found that the sickle cell gene is especially prevalent in areas of Africa hard-hit by malaria. In some regions, as much as 40 percent of the population carries at least one HbS gene. Some believe Sickle Cell Anemia is only found in the African American race, that is not true however, it can be found in many other races as well.
Sickle cell disease is caused by a genetic abnormality in the gene for hemoglobin, which results in the production of sickle hemoglobin. When oxygen is released from sickle hemoglobin, it sticks together and forms long rods, which damage and change the shape of the red blood cell. Children are born with sickle cell disease; it is not contagious. It occurs when a child inherits two sickle hemoglobin genes, one from each parent. About 2,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year in the United States.
The name comes from when the hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells it causes the cell to turn into a "sickle" shape. The signs and symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have very severe symptoms and often are hospitalized for treatment. Sickle cell Anemia is present at birth, but many infants don't show any signs until after 4 months of age.The most common signs and symptoms are linked to anemia and pain. Other signs and symptoms are linked to the disease's complications. Shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, coldness in the hands and feet, also paler than normal skin or mucous membranes. Sudden pain throughout the body is a common symptom of sickle cell anemia. This pain is called a sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell crises often affect the bones, lungs, abdomen, and joints.
Sickle cell anemia has no widely available cure. However, treatments can help relieve symptoms and treat complications. The goals of treating sickle cell anemia are to relieve pain, prevent infections, organ damage, and strokes; and control complications (if they occur). Blood and marrow stem cell transplants may offer a cure for a small number of people who have sickle cell anemia. Researchers continue to look for new treatments for the disease. With good health care, many people who have sickle cell anemia can live productive lives. They also can have reasonably good health much of the time and live longer today than in the past. If you have sickle cell anemia, it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, take steps to prevent and control complications, and learn ways to cope with pain.
While there is no widely available cure for Sickle Cell Disease, there are treatments for its symptoms and complications. Over the past several decades, scientists and doctors have learned a great deal about Sickle Cell Disease. They know its causes, how it affects the body, and how to treat many of its complications. Thanks to improved treatment and care, people who have Sickle Cell Disease are now living into their 40s, 50s or longer. The NHLBI (National Institutes of Health) continues to support efforts to find new and better treatments for sickle cell disease.
Works Cited
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NIH medicine plus. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter11/articles/winter11pg21.html>.
"Sickle Cell." Evolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/2/l_012_02.html>.
WebMD. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-sickle-cell-disease>.
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