Stunna
Valued Contributor
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. In people with sickle cell anemia, the mutated gene leads to the production of abnormal hemoglobin molecules, which can cause the red blood cells to take on a sickle or crescent shape.
The sickle-shaped red blood cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to organs and tissues. This can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, organ damage, and increased risk of infections.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited condition, which means that it is passed down from parents to their children through genes. To develop sickle cell anemia, a person must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. People who inherit only one copy of the mutated gene are carriers of the disease but typically do not develop symptoms.
Sickle cell anemia is more common in people of African descent, but it can also occur in people of Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent.
Sickle cells have a shorter lifespan than normal red blood cells, which can lead to a shortage of red blood cells in the body, causing anemia.
The sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, blocking blood flow and causing pain. These episodes are called pain crises and can be very severe.
Sickle cells can also block blood flow to organs, which can cause damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs..
The sickle-shaped red blood cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to organs and tissues. This can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, organ damage, and increased risk of infections.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited condition, which means that it is passed down from parents to their children through genes. To develop sickle cell anemia, a person must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. People who inherit only one copy of the mutated gene are carriers of the disease but typically do not develop symptoms.
Sickle cell anemia is more common in people of African descent, but it can also occur in people of Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent.
Sickle cells have a shorter lifespan than normal red blood cells, which can lead to a shortage of red blood cells in the body, causing anemia.
The sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, blocking blood flow and causing pain. These episodes are called pain crises and can be very severe.
Sickle cells can also block blood flow to organs, which can cause damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs..