What is Sickle Cell Anemia? by Isabel Lawrence

What is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is an incurable disease that affects the shape of blood cells. Usually, blood cells are round and bendable, so they can easily fit through blood vessels, but with sickle cell disease, blood cells are a rigid half moon shape. This can cause the blood cells to get stuck easier in blood cells, which can cause blockage and restrict blood flow.

 

Is there a cure?

There is no cure for sickle cell anemia. Because it affects the shape of blood cells, this is not something easily cured. Doctors have tried to find a way to fix the blood cells, but so far no significant progress has been made. A major breakthrough in the scientific community would have to be made in order to change something this drastic about the human body.

Symptoms?

People who live with sickle cell anemia experience extreme bursts of pain. The main cause of this is the irregular shaped blood cells getting stuck in blood vessels and creating a blockage. Sometimes, the pain can be so severe and frequent a hospital stay is needed. Usually, people with sickle cell anemia only have a few bursts of extreme pain per year.

People with sickle cell anemia also experience swelling of the extremities and frequent infections. The main cause of this is bad circulation caused by the half moon blood cells. Infections can occur easily because of the damage these type of blood cells to do the spleen. Because of this, diseases like pneumonia can be life threatening.