By: Bianca Mateiescu
What is Sickle-Cell Anemia?
In a nutshell sickle-cell anemia, also known as SCA, is a type of anemia, meaning a lower number of red blood cells than normal. With sickle-cell anemia the red blood cells are in a crescent moon shape instead of a normal round shape. What could happen with these crescent shaped cells is that they can get lodged in capillaries causing the flow of blood to stop from reaching its destination. Also sickle-cells die almost every 10-20 days unlike normal cells that die almost every 120 days.
In a nutshell sickle-cell anemia, also known as SCA, is a type of anemia, meaning a lower number of red blood cells than normal. With sickle-cell anemia the red blood cells are in a crescent moon shape instead of a normal round shape. What could happen with these crescent shaped cells is that they can get lodged in capillaries causing the flow of blood to stop from reaching its destination. Also sickle-cells die almost every 10-20 days unlike normal cells that die almost every 120 days.
How do you get Sickle-Cell Anemia?
Sickle-cell Anemia is a condition that is inherited from both parents. A person can only get this condition if both parents are carriers of it. If only one parent has the condition and the other does not the child is most likely to not be affected by the condition. People with sickle-cell anemia do not look any different then we do on the outside.
Sickle-cell Anemia is a condition that is inherited from both parents. A person can only get this condition if both parents are carriers of it. If only one parent has the condition and the other does not the child is most likely to not be affected by the condition. People with sickle-cell anemia do not look any different then we do on the outside.
How does it make every day life easy or difficult and how is it manageable?
Sickle-cell anemia can be managed for an easy day to day life but there are also times when it is no longer manageable and it can become a life threatening problem. Sickle-cell anemia can be managed by eating healthy, drinking liquids, and a balance between resting and exercising. Although it can be managed there are many complications that could happen, for example severe pain or damage to organs or muscles. The pain of sickle-cell anemia is described as deep and throbbing and attacks are usually even more painful and dangerous. What may cause a sickle-cell anemia attack to occur can be the cold, a lack of oxygen, dehydration, over exercising, and a fever or infection. If an attack were to happen the best way to try and treat it is to get hydrated, use painkillers, relax, breath in oxygen, and speaking to a doctor for any antibiotics that you may need. Drugs, smoking, and alcohol can cause a lot of complications to the body. Drugs may damage the heart, lungs, and brain as well as put a lot of extra stress on the body. Smoking as well may cause lung damage and could cause less oxygen to reach the lungs making breathing an even bigger challenge. Alcohol causes dehydration and fluid loss which over all may bring on intense pain to the body. With this condition you can still do your everyday living you just have to think a little more about how much stress and energy you put on your body and you also have to be a little aware of what goes into your body. That does not mean that you can not enjoy a slice of pizza every once in a while.
Cures and Conclusion
Although there is no cure yet for this condition a blood and marrow stem cell transplant may help in case of an emergency. The longevity of a person’s life with sickle-cell anemia is expected to be reduced by around 30 years if not managed properly. Over all a life with this condition if not entirely to difficult you just have to be aware of what you putting in your body and what your putting your body through. Other then that you can live like a "normal" person and do whatever you please.
Although there is no cure yet for this condition a blood and marrow stem cell transplant may help in case of an emergency. The longevity of a person’s life with sickle-cell anemia is expected to be reduced by around 30 years if not managed properly. Over all a life with this condition if not entirely to difficult you just have to be aware of what you putting in your body and what your putting your body through. Other then that you can live like a "normal" person and do whatever you please.