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Sickle Cell Anemia Paper

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This paper will describe what sickle cell anemia is, how it effects the human body; as well as the oral cavity. Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease caused by abnormal hemoglobin, which causes the red blood cells to have low oxygen levels (National Heart, Lungs and Blood Institute, 2015). Sickle cell anemia is inherited only if both parents have the disorder because it is caused by the genetic abnormality of hemoglobin (webMD, 2015). When there is abnormal hemoglobin it can produce sickle hemoglobin (webMD, 2015). This causes the red blood cells to stick together and create long rod shaped red blood cells when oxygen leaves the cell (webMD, 2015). When this happens it causes the symptoms of sickle cell anemia (webMD, 2015).
In people …show more content…
In people with this disease they may have an increased risk of periodontal and gum disease (Greenfield, 2015). The reason a client might get periodontal or gum disease is because there is not enough blood flow to the oral cavity to keep it healthy and ward off infections (Greenfield, 2015). Another oral symptom they might have is paleness of lips, tongue and inside of their mouth (L, Vorvick, MD, 2013). The reason for paleness of the oral cavity is the lack of oxygen that is transported by the red blood cells causing the colour to be decreased (L, Vorvick, MD, 2013). The last oral symptom is Glossitis. Glossitis is the inflammation of the tongue, which causes it to be swollen, smooth, pale, sore and/or tender (Greenfield, 2015). The reason for glossitis is again, your red blood cells not having enough oxygen to carry to your organs, tissues, and muscles (Macon, B., and Yu, W., 2012). Since the red blood cells can form stiff rods and create them into sickle shaped cells (National Heart, Lungs and Blood Institute, 2015). It can cause them to stick to vessel walls causing blockage, which causes blood flow to slow down (National Heart, Lungs and Blood Institute, 2015). Thus causing your muscles to not get the proper protein that is important for it health causing glossitis (Macon, B., and Yu, W., 2012). Although there is only little signs and symptoms through the oral cavity for sickle cell anemia, they are something …show more content…
In gene therapy research they are inserting a normal gene into the bone marrow of the patient with sickle cell anemia (Mayo Clinic, 2015). By doing this is may help patient produce the normal hemoglobin instead of the sickle cell (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Another research study going on with the treatment of this disease is drugs to boost fetal hemoglobin (Mayo Clinic, 2015). This is to see if certain drugs can increase the production of good hemoglobin in the body (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Nitric Oxide is another research project that is in process. Nitric oxide is being used to see if it can help open and decrease the sickle red blood cells from sticking together (Mayo Clinic,

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