Sickle Cell Anemia Research Paper

Sickle cell anemia is a genetically inherited and is a lifelong disease. Sickle cell anemia affects the red blood cells because it causes the cells to be crescent shape instead of how a normal cell looks like: an oval disk. This causes the circulation of the blood flow throughout the body to be clogged more often because people with sickle cell tend to have more blood clots. This also exhausts the body a lot more and people with this particular disease are more likely to get winded by a short physical activity. Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the beta-globin gene. The main symptoms of sickle cell are shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty breathing, deterioration of athletic performance, weakness, headaches, and dizziness. Another set of key features that

could also indicate that a person has anemia by having them go through a physical exam, checking if their skin is pale, cracked lips, brittle fingernails, and a rapid pulse. These symptoms are signs of someone having or even developing iron deficiency anemia. Fortunately, there are tests that can determine whether you may or may not have sickle cell anemia. This test is called hematocrit which is a series of lab tests used to diagnose anemia. The test calculates the percentage of whole blood volume that is due to red blood cells. To begin this test, the phlebologist must draw blood into the capillary tube with clay sealed at the bottom. After that, the capillary tube is centrifuged, forcing the red blood cells to the bottom. Once the centrifuged is done, the phlebologist calculates the total blood volume after they finished the calculations and you receive a low hematocrit score then it is viewed that you have anemia. However, there are various factors that contribute to the test, for example, your age, gender, and if you are pregnant. The next test procedure is to determine the hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is essential for our red blood cells, it is an oxygen-carrying protein that gives red blood cells their color. The hemoglobin test is one of the most widely used tests to screen for anemia. When you have been diagnosed with anemia, it is necessary to assess the situation and treat it.

Medications involve hydroxyurea that stimulates the production of the fetal hemoglobin which is a short-term treatment and causes new blood cells to not be sickled and folic acid increases folate stores responsible for the production of red blood cells. Other treatment options involve a bone marrow transplant which is more likely to cause the patient to get sick and are prone to infection more or blood transfusions to have normal red blood cells to carry out the blood cells’ function. However, it can not be done often because it causes high iron levels. Upon being diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, life may get a lot harder because you can get pain crisis, which can be sudden outbreaks and it can be mild or severe which may lead to necrosis, edema, and increased in pressure. You must also be more conscious of your health because your body cannot handle normal physical activity as others and is more prone to pain in joints, blockages in blood vessels which can lead to heart attacks and stroke and you must take your medications in time to ensure that you will not endanger yourself and be at risk of

death.