Sickle Cell Disease A Life Long Illness - 1370 Words

Sickle Cell Sickle cell disease is a life-long illness. The severity of the disease varies widely from person to person. In high-income countries like the United States, the life expectancy of a person with SCD is now about 40–60 years. In 1973, the average lifespan of a person with SCD in the United States was only 14 years. Advances in the diagnosis and care of SCD have made this improvement possible. Sickle Cell disease affects mostly African, Mediterranean and related ancestries it is passed on through generational traits and common related blood type. Sickle Cell disease is a disease that causes painful attacks called crises; which causes throbbing in their bones and backs. Sickle cell is caused by a protein that is abnormal called hemoglobin S which causes the shape of red blood cells to change into a sickle or crescent type shape. (George Buchanan, 2010) Cells in tissues need a steady supply of oxygen to work well. Normally, hemoglobin in red blood cells takes up oxygen in the lungs and carries it to all the tissues of the body. Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are disc sha ped (like a doughnut without a hole). This shape allows the cells to be flexible so that they can move through large and small blood vessels to deliver oxygen. Sickle hemoglobin is not like normal hemoglobin. Sickle-shaped cells are not flexible and can stick to vessel walls, causing a blockage that slows or stops the flow of blood. When this happens, oxygen can’t reach nearbyShow MoreRelatedSickle Cell Disease : African Americans1378 Words   |  6 PagesSickle Cell Disease on African Americans Cristina Martinez Nova Southeastern University Sickle Cell Disease on African Americans Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive hereditary blood disorder which causes damage to the cerebrovascular system including important organs such as the spleen and liver due to abnormal red blood cells (Scott Scott, 1999). Sickle cell disorder is caused by mutations in the HBB gene then hemoglobin S and other abnormal beta-globin chains create a rigid consistencyRead More Sickle Cell Disease Essay1447 Words   |  6 PagesSickle Cell Disease Sickle Cell Disease is an illness that affects people all across the globe. This paper will give a description of the sickness through the discussion of the causes, symptoms, and possible cures. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.(1) These disorders can have various afflictions, such as pain, damage and a low blood count--Sickle Cell Anemia. The overall incidence of SCD is eight out of 100,000 people. However, it isRead More Discovering Sicke Cell Anemia Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesDiscovering Sicke Cell Anemia The topic that I am learning about is Sickle Cell Anemia, a hereditary disease which affects red blood cells. Throughout this research paper, I will discuss what exactly it is, how it is caused, any known treatments or cures, and many other facts that are important in this disease. Sickle Cell Anemia is a health problem throughout the world. More than 250,000 babies are born worldwide with this inherited blood cell disorder (http://www.medaccess.com/h_child/sickle/sca_01.htm)Read MoreJacquelyn Sayikanmi. Understanding Sickle Cell Disease.1191 Words   |  5 PagesJacquelyn Sayikanmi Understanding Sickle Cell Disease Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) occurs in 1 out of every 365 African American births compared to 1 out of 16,000 Hispanic-American births (1). SCD is a group of red blood cell disorders in which patients have a sickle or moon-shaped red blood cell due to an abnormal S hemoglobin. While sickle cell disease is relatively rare in American births, this is an alarming statistic among people of Sub-Saharan (west and central) African descentRead MoreSickle Cell Anemi The Course And Impact1512 Words   |  7 PagesSickle Cell Anemia: The Course and Impact The past century has seen a significant increase in diversity across the United States. Approximately 36% of the population belongs to an ethnic or racial minority group according to the most recent census information. For the majority of the American population, infant mortality has been reduced and life expectancy has significantly increased. Health indicators such as these show improvement but minorities still continue to experience a disproportionateRead MoreAnatomy And Physiology : Sickle Cell Disease Essay910 Words   |  4 PagesPaper – Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia is a group of disorders that affects the molecule in red blood cells that deliver oxygen to the cells. Approximately 100,00 people in America are affected by this disease. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease, which means it is passed from parents to their children. This disease occurs mainly in people if African, middle eastern, Mediterranean, and Indian decent. People who are born with sickle cell diseaseRead MoreSickle Cell Disease : A Blood Disorder1264 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder in which red blood cells take on an abnormal shape. Sickle cell anemia is when the red blood cells hemolyze, or die. Sickle cell disease is inherited from generation to generation and is the most common in inherited blood disorders. An estimated 70,000-100,000 people in America are currently suffering from this disease, most of which are African Americans. One is diagnosed with sickle cell disease in early childhood generally around four monthsRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Sickle Cell Disease Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pagespatients with sickle cell disease. It is important to understand the underlying causes and the complications of the disease. Acute chest syndrome is one of the leading causes of death associated with sickle cell disease. It is critical to understand how to care for these patients holistically. Pathophysiology Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that causes a mutation in the hemoglobin molecule. Normal red blood cells are round and flexible. In a person with sickle cell anemia the bloodRead MoreEssay on Sickle Cell Anemia1251 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal-recessive inheritance that results from a alteration in the gene responsible for the hemoglobin production. A healthy hemoglobin A is produced under normal circumstances, but for people with SCD they produce a sickle hemoglobin S. (Gill, V., 2010) Unlike normal hemoglobin A, hemoglobin S has a tendency to agglutinate, or clump together, when the oxygen supply is decreased. As a result, the red blood cells take on a rigid or â€Å"sickle† shape causingRead MoreEmbryonic And Adult Stem Cell Research Essay1093 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermined, but he is unaware that the type of sickle cell disease from which he is suffering can be cured using stem cells. Scientists have recorded two types of stem cells – embryonic and adult. Stem cells can be retrieved not only from embryos, but also umbilical cords, the placenta, amniotic fluid, and adult tissues and organs (â€Å"Stem Cells,† 2011, p.12). Stem cell research is only a s mall part of a much larger field of regenerative medicine that includes cell-based therapies, gene technology, and tissue