Sickle cell anemia is a blood condition where the blood cells become abnormal in shape, forming what would appear to be crescents as opposed to the typical round shape of typical blood cells. This modification in form essentially causes the blood cells to die, lowering a person's red blood cell count, or get lodged in the blood vessels, blocking blood flow. Since the red blood cells carry oxygen from the top of our head to the tips of our toes, a lowered number or a blockage will ultimately slow the transport of oxygen throughout the body. This can lead to a number of troubling symptoms.
Anemia
While the anemia part of sickle cell anemia seems rather obvious, it does cause a number of other symptoms. Basically, anemia leaves a person with less blood cells than the "average" person, which cause fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, lack of concentration, dizziness or lightheadedness, insomnia and headaches. Many times, a person suffering from anemia due to sickle cell appears pale.
Pain and Infections
Two fairly prevalent symptoms of sickle cell anemia are pain and infections. When the abnormal red blood cells become lodged in the blood vessels, they block the flow of blood. This blockage often results in mild to severe pain that is isolated to the joints, abdomen or even chest for a short to lengthy period of time. Others also experience infections, such as pneumonia, influenza or strep throat, since the spleen is often damaged from the lack of red blood cells.
Vision Problems
Another fairly common symptom of sickle cell anemia involves vision. The very small blood vessels in the eye can become easily blocked by the irregular blood cells, potentially damaging the retina. This damage can result in blindness.
Other Symptoms
One of the first signs or symptoms of sickle cell anemia may be swelling of the hands and feet. It's actually a good indicator for diagnosis of babies and young children. Again, the swelling is a result of a blockage in the blood flow. Another symptom seen in young people who have sickle cell anemia is stunted growth. This is often due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients which are transported by the red blood cells. Due to the lack of red blood cells, another somewhat common symptom of sickle cell anemia is jaundice. This yellowing of the skin and eyes is normally a result of liver damage, which can happen in people who suffer from sickle cell anemia. In this case, the damage is due to the liver being basically devastated by the lack of red blood cells.
Medications
Medications are often used to treat and prevent the symptoms of sickle cell anemia, not the condition itself. Doctors prescribe antibiotic and pain-relievers to either prevent or treat infections and manage pain. Depending on the severity of the condition, painkillers are also sometimes prescribed.
Transfusions
Blood transfusions are also used as a form of treatment for sickle cell anemia, essentially replacing those blood cells that are irregular or dead. This can lessen the impact of the symptoms of the condition as well as decrease the chances of a stroke.
Bone Marrow Transplant
While this is probably the most beneficial treatment and holds the only real potential of a cure, bone marrow transplants are rarely used since it is extremely difficult to find a match. When a successful match is found, patients go through a fairly serious medical procedure to first kill their bone marrow and then replace it through a transfusion.
Tags: blood cells, cell anemia, sickle cell anemia, sickle cell, sickle cell, blood vessels, lack blood