Sickle Cell Anemia
For those who don't know, 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." Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disorder, a disease or condition caused by an absent or defective gene, that is passed down through generations. In order for someone to contract Sickle Cell Anemia, both parents would have to have the recessive trait for the disorder. Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by mutations in the HBB gene, otherwise known as hemoglobin beta. HBB is found on chromosome 11 and it holds instructions for making beta globin, a protein found in red blood cells. When the gene is mutated, some red blood cells are formed differently, like crescent moons, or sickles, therefore the name sickle cell.
Life with Sickle Cell Anemia
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Sickle Cell Anemia can be diagnosed in infants as early as 2 months old. The affected person will have many pain crisis in the beginning of his or her life. Their veins are smaller and the sickle cells get clogged faster. The patients have swelling in their hands and feet most of the time from the blockage. The affected person's family will not know how to handle the pain or know what to do to help and hospital visits are very frequent. The family will be under emotional and financial stress from the high hospital bills, due to multiple emergency room visits. As the affected person grows up, the pain crisis will be less and less. By now, they have found a primary doctor and is under pain medication that keeps everything under control. But now, they will notice the restrictions of the disease. The people with Sickle Cell Anemia won't be able to play as long or as much as their friends or else shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches will come. Their friends will ask questions on why their eyes are yellow and why their hands are so cold. The patients will feel different and alone. As patients age and mature, their friends and family will have a better understanding of the disease and will be more supportive. Their pain crisis are well controlled and they can live a normal, healthy life up to 50 years old.