Sickle Cell Disease: Facts You Should Know

Sickle cell disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. Symptoms can vary, but people usually have abnormal blood cells that can’t carry oxygen properly. This can lead to pain and difficulty breathing, especially during exercise or during periods of high stress. If you’re concerned about your health and want to learn more about this condition, read on for facts about it!

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious inherited blood disorder caused by a change in the gene that codes for the hemoglobin protein. Normal hemoglobin is made up of two parts: an A-particle and a B-particle.

The A-particle is shaped like a sickle and helps to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. The B-particle is round and helps to carry waste products away from cells.

In SCD, there are too many sickle-shaped A-particles in the blood, which can block the flow of oxygen to tissues and cause pain and problems throughout the body.

People with SCD are at risk for heart attacks, strokes, lung infections, miscarriages, and stillbirths. There is no cure for SCD, but treatments can help improve symptoms.

How Common is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease is a condition that affects red blood cells and is very common in African Americans. It can affect people of any race, but it is more common in African Americans.

Sickle cell anemia is the most common form, but other forms of this condition also exist.

Sickle cell disease is caused by a change (mutation) in the gene for the hemoglobin protein. Hemoglobin is a molecule that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.

In people with, there are changes (mutations) in one or more copies of a gene for hemoglobin.

These mutations cause abnormal hemoglobin molecules, which can cause sickling of red blood cells (a characteristic feature seen under a microscope).

People with sickle cell anemia have sickled red blood cells because they don’t have enough normal hemoglobin to carry oxygen around the body.

People with other forms of sickle cell disease may not have any symptoms at all or they may have symptoms that depend on how severe the condition is.

Symptoms of most forms of sickle cell disease usually develop during childhood or early adulthood, but they can occur at any age.

Most people with symptomatic sickle cell disease need regular treatment with medications to keep their red blood cells from becoming sickled and to help them get enough oxygen.

Without this treatment, serious health problems can develop, including death from stroke or heart attack. There

What Causes Of this disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder that affects red blood cells. It occurs when there is a change in the gene that codes for the hemoglobin protein. Hemoglobin is what carries oxygen throughout the body.

The usual cause of SCD is a change in one of the alleles of the SCD gene. There are two types of alleles: recessive and dominant.

A person who has one recessive allele (for example, A) will have SCD if they have a second copy (B). A person who has two dominant alleles (A and B) will not have SCD unless they also have a third copy of an SCD gene (C).

About 1 in 400 people in the United States has SCD, which means that it is one of the most common genetic disorders. People with SCD are at risk for many health problems, including heart problems, stroke, and kidney failure.

What are the Symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder caused by a change in the gene for the hemoglobin molecule. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. SCD affects about 1 in 25,000 people worldwide.

The most common symptom of SCD is anemia, which is a decrease in the number of red blood cells. Other symptoms may include pain and swelling due to spleen or other organ damage, stroke, and death due to complications from anemia. There is no cure for SCD, but treatment focuses on managing the symptoms.

How is Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosed?

Sickle cell disease is a genetic illness that causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped. This can cause problems with how the blood flows through your body and can lead to serious health problems.

Sickle cell trait is a condition in which people have some sickle cell gene but do not develop the disease. It is possible to be carriers of the sickle cell gene and not have any symptoms or mild symptoms that go undetected.

To diagnose your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. He or she may also order tests to check your blood flow or bone density. If you are suspected of having it, your doctor may refer you for further testing.

Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

There are a number of different treatment options available for people with (SCD), including medications, surgery, and blood transfusions.

Medications:

Some people with SCD use medication to help prevent sickling. Medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes of sickle cell crisis.

Which is when a person has a very severe form of SCD. Medications can also improve overall health and quality of life for people with SCD.

Some common medications used to treat SCD include hydroxyurea (HU) and azathioprine. HU is a drug that helps to reduce the number of abnormalities.

Red blood cells in the blood and azathioprine is an immunosuppressant drug that helps to prevent infections. Both medications have side effects, but they are generally well-tolerated by people with SCD.

Surgery:

Sometimes people with SCD need surgery to correct problems caused by their condition, such as malformed blood vessels or joints that are not working properly due to inflammation.

Surgery may also be required to remove infected thrombi (clots) from the heart or lungs. Surgery can be risky for people with SCD, but it can be life-saving if it is done quickly enough after a crisis occurs.

Conclusion

Sickle cell disease is a serious inherited blood disorder that can affect any race. It most commonly affects people of African descent, but it can also occur in people from other ethnic backgrounds.

Sickle cell disease occurs when the red blood cells are abnormally shaped and have difficulty carrying oxygen around the body. This can lead to pain, anemia, and stroke.

If you or someone you know has, now is the time to get screened for it. If you are at risk for this disorder, getting screened will help ensure that you receive the best possible care and help prevent complications from developing.