4/25/2015
English 4
What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle Cell Anemia (SCD) is a rare blood disease that causes mutation to the blood. Basically normal blood cells are shaped like a donut without the hole in the middle; when they sickle they form into little thin C's that stick together. When they begin to stick together blood is not able to flow causing pain.
When the sickled sickles stick together this causes a condition called '' Sickle Cell Crises''. Patients experience extreme pain to the limbs as well as fatigue. Some of the symptoms of SCD is shortness of breath, dizziness, head aches, and coldness in the limbs. SCD also causes discoloration in the skin and eyes.
SCD is a serous illness, it damages organs such as the kidney due to the lack of blood flow. SCD symptoms can be treated. SCD is not contagious, it is inherited by a parent or relative who has it. Blood transfusions are commonly used to treat SCD patients.
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