The Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

790 Words2 Pages

Sickle cell disease has lifelong effects on the body that causes continuous pain and health burdens. “Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of disorders affecting the haemoglobin protein leading to red blood cell sickling” (Ngo, 244). The disease can not be contracted from one person to another by airborne or direct contact. Sickle cell disease is inherited from both parents that carry the actual disease. If one parent has the disease and the other parent has the trait then it is a 50% chance that the child would either have the disease or be a carrier of the gene trait. “People with the disease are born with it and can experience complications of anaemia and organ damage to any part of the body starting in infancy” (Ngo, 244). Pain, anemia, …show more content…

The sickle red blood cells are crescent shape which can sometimes get stuck in the small blood vessels. When they get stuck and cause pain in any part of the body it is a called sickle cell crisis. A sickle cell crisis can cause pain in the chest, stomach, hands, feet, or bones and it could last a day or up to a week. This can be life threatening if not properly treated. Something as small and mild as leg pain when you have sickle cell may end up being life-threatening or the cause of your death. The sickle red blood cells that are stuck and is the cause of the mild pain in the leg may cause a blood clot. That blood clot would then travel through the body into the lungs and stop the natural blood flow. People with sickle cell disease have a weak immune system and when a sickle cell crisis happens whether the pain is mild or severe they should always seek medical help. Working out, overheating, getting too cold, not drinking enough fluids, change in air pressure, and getting sick are some triggers of a sickle cell …show more content…

“During the crisis organs, including the kidneys, liver and spleen are damaged causes excruciating pain, usually in the joints” (Northen). Just like you, your body’s organs need oxygen. Whether it is from anemia or a sickle cell crisis the lack of oxygen can cause acute to severe damage in the organs. The longer the organs go without oxygen the more damage the organ will have because it begins to shut down. Organ damage can lead to infections and other complications. Infections that are hard to fight for a person with sickle cell disease. A stroke could happen due to the lack of oxygen to the brain. Strokes are a high risk for anyone with sickle cell disease. During a stroke brain cells may die causing more

Open Document