Sickle Cell Anemia Up Close
What is sickle cell anemia? Have you seen your red blood cells up close? In case not, let me share how those red blood cells look like. Basically, sickle cells are crescent in form thereby defying healthy disc-shaped cells. These cells appear sickle in form due to lack of oxygen supply.
How are crescent cells developed? Basically, Hemoglobin S is responsible for the production of abnormal cells. This protein found in red blood cells can alter the shape of red blood cells. Most likely, it is triggered by lack of oxygen critical to the survival of these cells. That explains why abnormal crescent cells can only last in a span of 10 to 20 days.
Since sickle cells are likely to survive in a short while, red blood cells shall come short in number. That is the time when sickle cell anemia arises out of insufficient supply of red blood cells.