EFFECTS OF SICKLE CELL ANEMIA ON THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Out of all of the body systems, the respiratory system is affected the most by Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia is a lack of proper healthy red blood cells. SCD causes defected hemoglobin to form. This defected hemoglobin and the sickled shape of the SCA red blood cells decreases the maximum oxygen capacity of the red blood cells. In turn, less oxygen can be incorporated into our bodies from the atmosphere.
The shape of the sickle cell is a long toenail shape, and is easily caught in between arteries, capillaries, and veins. Because of this, blood flow too the lungs is significantly decreased. This means that less oxygen is carried to the lungs. The lack of oxygen in the lungs can lead to painful consequences such as , pain, fever, coughing, pneumonia, and necrosis. Chronic pain in the lungs caused by necrosis and ischemia is know as Acute Chest Syndrome. These consequences can lead to more serious effects, sometimes death. (22) |
|Brian Oh|Biology 2|Final Project|5/30/2013|