Sickle Cell Anemia (SDA)

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) also known as sickle-cell disease (SDA) is the most common genetic blood disorder that most people know far to little about. It is blood disease identified by abnormal looking red blood cells (Primary Health Care 2012). Normal blood cells tend to be soft and round and travel to through the body smoothly as for sickle cells, on the other hand, look like a hard falcate moon shape (Primary Health Care 2012). These abnormal red blood cells result in a difficult blood flow of oxygen throughout the body (Connecticut Department of Public Health 2008). This disease can be life threatening. Sickle cells can cause clogged blood vessels and result in damaged organs or even a stroke. In addition, sickle cells are more susceptible
Charles F. Whitten (The Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey, Inc 2010). Dr. Whitten in the early 1970's saw that families and people with SCD were lacking services. To help the people with sickle cell anemia and through his own efforts, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) was founded (The Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey, Inc 2010). In 2010, the Registry and Surveillance System for Hemoglobinopathies (RuSH) was first started to collect data on population-based people with SCD (Center of Disease Prevention and Control CDC 2012). Currently this project still assists in determining how many people are infected with SCA and increases knowledge and awareness of sickle cell
Treatment for adults with minor symptoms, include over the counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. A heating pad, rest and lots of fluids are also advised. For more severe cases, may be seeking help at a day treatment center, hospital or even the emergency room (National Heart and Blood Institute People Science Health 2011). Only for a small number of people, blood and marrow stem cell transplants may offer a cure (National Heart and Blood Institute People Science Health