Lexy Fulkerson
Mrs. Sanders.
8 January 2012
Period 8

Sickle Cell Anemia Sickle Cell is a disease that you inherit from one or both of your parents. It is treatable and can be taken away forever. There are many different types of sickle cell because everyone’s body is different and handles it differently. Some cases are better than others. Sickle Cell isn’t something to joke about; it is very serious and has many symptoms. People with Sickle cell develop severe chest, back, arms, legs, and abdomen pain. The pain can be anywhere in the body. If it is in your lungs it can cause severe illness with chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. It can cause permit damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen and bones. The red blood cells can be seen when blood is examined under a microscope. Sickle Cell is diagnosed by a blood test. If the Sickle Cells block blood flow to the brain it can result in stroke. It includes seizures, weakness, or numbness of arms, and legs. Sudden speech difficulties and loss of consciousness. Skin Ulcers are open sores or ulcers on your legs it can cause. Acute chest syndrome is a life threatening. It can cause chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing because of a lung infection or sickle cells blocking blood vessels in the lung. Pulmonary Hypertension is high blood pressure in the lungs, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing are all signs and can be fatal. The sickle cells can block blood from flowing into the blood vessels and immediately depriving an organ of blood and oxygen. It can result in organ damage. Sometimes an exchange transfusion is preformed with a special machine that removes the abnormal sickle red block cells and replaces it with normal red blood cells. Hydroxyura is the only FDA approved medicine that prevents painful episodes. Studies show that a regular use of hydroxyura decreases the frequency and severity of sickle cell and reduces the number of blood transfusions and being in the hospital. Stem cell transplant is the only curative treatment for sickle cell. The transplant has a 5%-10% risk of death. Patients with successful transplants had complete cure if sickle cell with no further episodes of pain. In 1973 the lifespan for people with sickle cell was fourteen, now