Sickle Cell Disease

For my class disease, we looked at diseases and how specific ones effect the body. Our first action  project was to research a specific disease of our choice and write a patient case study helping people who do not know about this disease better their knowledge. I researched  a disease called Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is a disease of the blood, the body makes cells that are in the the shape of a sickle this red blood cell would look like a crescent. Normal red blood cells look like doughnuts and flow regularly through out the blood stream, they contain protein called hemoglobin which carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. Where as with the crescent like red blood cell it often gets clogged, they are also stiff and get stuck together this causes them to block blood flow in the blood vessels which can lead to an infection, pain in the limbs, and organ damage. This disease mostly impacts the circulatory system because in order to carry oxygen through out the body you need your red blood cells to help carry the oxygen.

This disease is an inherited disease that lasts for a lifetime. Each parent gives one sickle cell hemoglobin gene to the child which causes the disease. If one parent has the gene the child will most likely  get sickle cell trait. Sickle cell trait isn't as severe as the disease itself but they can often get the same symptoms. Over all I found this project rather interesting because I already know so much about this disease. I enjoyed working on my human body drawing because I had the opportunity to zoom in and really show where the disease happens. Below I have my interview with a friend talking more about this disease and how it effects the body. I also have a patient overview of a sickle cell patient.
__________________________________________________________


Over View :

AMK(2015)

Adam, an average 18 year old boy who enjoys playing soccer, basketball and hockey. He lives a pretty good life. The only thing that slows Adam down is his sickle cell anemia. Adam is the only child in his family to inherit full sickle cell disease. Adam has had many sickle cell pain episodes through out his childhood which often forces him to go to the hospital and receive treatment although. When Adam was around the age of six he encountered a major stomach ache which caused him to the hospital. Later the doctors found out that Adam had splenetic sequestration which caused by sickled cells being trapped in the spleen since they are stiff and sticky it is often difficult for the passage ways to become clear. This caused Adam to have surgery to remove his overgrown spleen, to prevent infection. Today he is active and plays many sports he must watch his health and stay hydrated.

 If Adam were to suddenly have a sickle cell related episode, his stomach would ache, joints are stiff, and may run a slight  fever. Adam is rushed to the hospital and is hooked with an IV that contains water to keep him hydrated, he is given ibuprofen to lessen the fever and relive his joints. Nurses take blood work to make sure his hemoglobin count is steady and if not he needs a blood transfusion. If his case stays the same the care giver must hospitalize him to make sure he does not get worse. When he gets better Adam can return home, and go on with his daily lifestyle.

Hemoglobin is rich protein inside red blood cells, this caries oxygen through out the body. If a persons hemoglobin were to be low they would need a blood transfusion to raise their hemoglobin count. The hemoglobin could be low because their is deficiency in Iron, Folic acid, and vitamin B-12. This is where the term Anemic comes from (sickle cell anemia). 

Interview: 


AMK: How does this disease happen?

A: It happens when parents have both hemoglobin genes, and the child either has the trait or the actual disease 

AMK: What things can you learn from this disease ?

A: Its a blood disease, and it can't really be transmitted through bodily fluids it cant at all. Kids are born with it 

AMK: When someone gets sickle cell pain what are the symptoms?

A: Usually stomach pain, headaches, body aches, and high fever, its usually pain crises and pain episodes that could send a kid to the hospital so they can receive treatment.  

AMK: How can you prevent getting sick from sickle cell 

A: doing basic things like staying hydrated and also taking antibiotics, just being healthy and clean just washing your hands simple things yo do in everyday life.   

AMK: What ethnicity is this disease most common in?

A:Most common with African Americans, usually its just the history kids who have parents, who have sickle cell disease or the trait, and that's about it. 

AMK: How can the sickness be prevented? 

A:Like I aid before doing simple things like washing your hands, staying hydrated and active and watching what you eat.

AMk:Why do you have to watch what you eat?

A:Because you have to make sure you dont eat the wrong things that can make you sick easily. Also to watch your nutrition  

AMK: What type of medication does one have to use if they have sickle cell?

A: They use, well it depends on what the doctor prescribes like hydroxyurea is usually what most kids with sickle cell have it treats the pain in a way and somewhat controls it.
Citation:

"What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?" - NHLBI, NIH. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

Food Distribution Around The World

For my final action project, my class and I focused on multiple things. We looked at our current world population and later predicted the world population in 2050 using a geometric sequence, a sequence where you go from one term to the next by multiply or dividing. We also looked at symbiosis, the interaction of two similar and or different organisms and compared different things in nature, and in the human population, seeing how they would interact. We then used that knowledge and put it in our action project. This action project focuses on the human population and different factors that would make our population increase or decrease. We each had to pick a topic that would impact our human population in 36 years (2050). We then had to write a script educating the opposing view on the topic. Down below is my project, enjoy!

AMK (2014) Population.

Hunger is a well known topic in today's world, but some of us don't know one of the main causes, food distribution. Some parts of the world lack basic food distribution which leads to a fall in our population. In 2050, there is to be an expected 10,715,465,520 people. If we have a fall due to poor food distribution, it would be unfortunate for out nation because we have the resources to keep civilians alive. This fall is in regards to people dying everyday due to malnutrition (the lack of protein and energy) and lack of access to clean food and water. Hunger is a very serious issue in our world today, therefore we must try in every way possible to stop it. The parties that are not getting an equal distribution of food are acting in competition because they are fighting for this food that they need in order to survive. Although the majority of the United States is not fighting for food, other countries (third world/developing countries) are.

Below is my script describing the importance of food distribution, and how you can contribute to the cause.

[Kennedy and Alexis were eating lunch one day when Kennedy wondered how third world countries get their food everyday. ‘’Do they even get food every day?'' she wondered.]

Alexis: Man, I’m so full; I don’t want this anymore. Besides, it tastes bland.

Kennedy: Wait, don’t you dare throw that away; so many families are starving in our human population, it would be an insult to throw all of that food away.

Ashley: Uh okay, but this one plate of food will not help feed the world.

Kennedy: You're right, that’s because they can't even access it.

Alexis: No, also because this is one plate of food.

                                   

Kennedy: Alexis, don't you think we have enough food to support the U.S? We obviously do because you are able to throw that away [points to food] . But a family in Sierra Leone can't even get access to that because there is an unequal distribution of food supply happening. Over 1 billion people are suffering from chronic hunger, and it's due to poor food distribution.

Alexis: But why are we not able to feed these people if we do have the food resources? Besides, we don't live there - it isn't our problem.

Kennedy Well, Alexis, they are human beings, too and they deserve access to the same things we consume. It's their human right! 

Kennedy: Some of the reasons are because when people want to distribute food, they often don't know who is in charge, and the food ends up going to some villages where others around that area are not able to access it or purchase it.

Kennedy: At my school, GCE, we had a hunger banquet. This banquet showed us how our world population today is. They had the majority of people in lower class where people don’t have access to much, and very few in the  middle section, and lastly, high class, which was scarce. These seatings showed us our world today and how food is being distributed based on how much wealth you have. The lower class had the cheapest meal, which was rice and beans. This comes to show that whoever is in control of distributing food to the poorest people in the world finds the cheapest food possible, making sure that it has some protein in it to keep those people alive.

Alexis: Okay, I understand the banquet’s message, but I don't think people in developing countries only lack markets.

Kennedy: You're right. They also lack transportation. In their areas, there are not enough roads or railroads to transport them to get access to this food. Building these roads also cost money to build and to maintain, which often developing countries cannot afford.

Alexis: Are there any more reasons why these developing countries cannot access food?

Kennedy: Of course! Another major problem is the waste that occurs when food is being transported. Most of the food that is transported is perishable, meaning it can rot and spoil quickly. These foods also can get bacteria and spread diseases. It is estimated that 25-50% of food is wasted; because of all this wasted food, a shortage occurs causing the price to increase for consumers.

Alexis: Wow! That’s very interesting, but how about people who have access to food distribution?

Kennedy: Even people who have access to food cannot buy it because the costs are just too high. In the U.S, 58.8 percent of the U.S makes minimum wage. Although they may make ends meet, they don’t always have access to healthy food causing them to consume unhealthy fast food.

Kennedy: This lack of food can cause a great drop in our population when there isn't enough food to feed the people who need it.

Alexis: Wow, that’s a lot of information; is there any way I can contribute to this cause?

Kennedy: I'm glad you asked. You can donate or volunteer at Convoy of Hope. They help people around the world distributing medical help, food, water, and many other resources.

Alexis: Thank you! Next time, I’ll think twice about throwing food away.



Citations:
Inadequate Food Distribution Systems." Terrascope Websites. N.p., 8 Nov. 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

World Food Programme. (2009). World Hunger Series Hunger and Markets. Retrieved November 29, 2010, 

Convoy of Hope." Convoy of Hope Home Comments. N/a, n/a. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.