Sickle Cell Disease By Samantha

What is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. The sickle-shaped red blood cells look like crescents instead of the normal shaped circles. Normal red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. But sickle cells contain abnormal hemoglobin called sickle hemoglobin. Sickle hemoglobin causes the sickle cells to take the shape of a crescent. Sickle cells are stiff and sticky and they tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. This is why sickle cell disease is so dangerous because it can cause pain, serious infections, and organ damage.

How Do You Get Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is an incompletely dominant trait. In order to get this incompletely dominant trait you have to have one parent recessive for this trait and the other parent dominant for this trait.

How Does Having Sickle Cell Disease Affect Your Life? Sickle cell disease shortens your life every day you have it. A study conducted in 1994 showed that only half the men with this disease survived past age 42 and only half the women with this disease survived past age 48. The oldest age anyone with this disease has ever lived to was 85. It can also be fatal. About half the deaths from sickle cell disease are from infection because by having this disease it makes it extremely difficult to fight any infections. The next most common cause of death was from strokes.

What Are Some Symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease? Pain Anemia Delayed Growth Eye Problems Infections Stroke Acute Chest Syndrome

How Can You Detect if You Have Sickle Cell Disease? All babies are given a blood test when they are born to see if they have this disease. If the test shows the abnormal hemoglobin is present, a second test is done to confirm the diagnosis.

for Sickle Cell Disease? Are There Any Treatments Available for Sickle Cell Disease? Pain from this disease is treated with pain killing-drugs and intravenous fluids. Most complications are treated as they occur but the anticancer drug hydroxyurea can reduce the pain of sickle cell crisis and acute chest syndrome. Young children are often given oral penicillin twice a day to prevent pneumonia. But blood transfusions can correct anemia, help prevent strokes, and treat spleen enlargement. Regular medical treatment is important for people with this disease. But with good health care, people with sickle cell disease can be in good health.

Organizations Out There to Help People With Sickle Are There Any Organizations Out There to Help People With Sickle Cell Disease? Yes! Groups like the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) are helping to raise money for people with this horrible disease. They also explain and educate people about Sickle Cell Disease and encourage people to help. They already have tons of members and are always looking for more. So join today! You could be helping lots of people with their fight against Sickle Cell Disease.

Sources: To Learn More About Sickle Cell Disease, http://www.google.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasess/a/sicklecell.htm http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100215611 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhatIs.html http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/ To Learn More About Sickle Cell Disease, Click on This Link to Watch A Video: http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-About-Sickle-Cell-Anemia-264563612