Sickle Cell Anemia
By: Chandler Newbold and Riley Schultz
The Cause of Sickle Cell Anemia.
- Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by a point mutation in the gene that tells your body to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the red, iron-rich compound that gives blood its red color.
- The 11th chromosome is affected to cause Sickle Cell Anemia.
- Sickle Cell Anemia can be passed down from generation to generation.
How does Sickle Cell Anemia affect the human body?
- Sickle Cell Anemia is a disorder that affects the red blood cells, which uses a protein called hemoglobin to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Day to Day with Sickle Cell Anemia...
- People who have this disease have a higher risk of having strokes or getting infections.
- People with Sickle Cell Anemia can experience complications from impaired blood circulation and infection-fighting problems.
- People with Sickle Cell Anemia have a 20-30 year lower life expectancy.
- People with Sickle Cell Anemia may develop Jaundice, severe pain, and acute chest syndrome.
Sickle Cell Anemia most commonly occurs in...
- Sickle Cell Anemia is most common among people from Africa, India, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.
Treatments for Sickle Cell Anemia...
- Antibiotics such as Penicillin
- Folic acid, is a vitamin that helps the body produce new red blood cells.
- Bone marrow transplants
- Pain medicines
- Rest
- Extra fluids
- Scientists are also studying gene therapy as a future treatment for Sickle Cell Anemia.
Interesting Facts
- Sickle Cells got their name from their shape since they look like a sickle used to cut hay.
- About 1 out of every 12 African-Americans has sickle cell trait and about 1 out of every 100 Latinos has sickle cell trait.
- Sickle Cell shaped cells live up to 10-20 days unlike normal red blood cells which live up to 120 days.
- 1 out of 500 African-American babies have sickle cell.
- In 1973, the life expectancy for people with Sickle Cell was 14 years old.