Normal hemoglobin-containing erythrocytes are silky, disk-shaped, and supple, resembling doughnuts without holes, and thus readily pass through the blood vessels. Sickle cell hemoglobin-containing cells are stiff and sticky. In oxygen-deficient sickle cells, they take the shape of a sickle or crescent (Alzubaidi et al., 2020). Clot formation is the mechanism through which circulatory components in the plasma become insoluble gel. The gel plugs leak into the blood channels and prevent excessive bleeding. Coagulation factors, calcium, and phospholipids are required for the normal coagulation process. The liver is responsible for the production of coagulation factors.
Sickled cells are not only less elastic but also stickier than healthy red blood cells. The effect can cause blood vessel obstruction, leading to tissue and organ damage with periods of acute pain. The defective blood cells are more brittle and disintegrate, resulting in a lack of erythrocytes, often known as anemia. Sickled red blood cells can obstruct blood supply in veins and capillaries of the brain, resulting in a silent stroke (Hasson et al., 2019). Another prevalent kind of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia, which occurs when the blood lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells. The condition is characterized by reduced or depleted iron reserves necessary for the production of red blood cells.
The most prevalent cause is excessive bleeding. There are no widespread signs and symptoms of the illness. However, people with the condition may suffer from dizziness, weariness, light headaches, a rapid heart rate or palpitations, pale skin, and difficulty breathing. By consuming a diet rich in iron and vitamin C, the condition can be avoided. As such, its treatment encompasses ingestion of vitamins and supplements, which may include iron supplements with a focus on any underlying factors.
References
Alzubaidi, L., Fadhel, M. A., Al-Shamma, O., Zhang, J., & Duan, Y. (2020). Deep learning models for classification of red blood cells in microscopy images to aid in sickle cell anemia diagnosis. Electronics, 9(3), 1-18. Web.
Hasson, C., Veling, L., Rico, J., & Mhaskar, R. (2019). The role of hydroxyurea to prevent silent stroke in sickle cell disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 98(51), 1-6. Web.