How Does Sickle Cell Effect The Digestive System?
Most people when they think of Sickle Cell Anemia, think about the affects on the circulatory system, but it also affects the digestive system. When red blood cells die, bilirubin is produced. Red blood cells die every 120 days, sickle cells die in 20 days. It is the livers job to break down the bilirubin. The extra bilirubin can become a gallstone in the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores bile made in the liver, then releases bile to digest fat. The gallstones could block the ducts to the liver, pancreas or the gallbladder. And left untreated it could cause infection and be fatal. Bilirubin gallstones are common in such disorders as Sickle Cell Anemia.
The digestive system can also be affected by a painful event. The painful event happens when the sickle cells pile up on each other in the veins and red blood cells carrying hemoglobin cannot get past. This causes pain in the organ since it is without oxygen. Increased fluids can help prevent the piling up of the sickle cells by keeping the blood full and flowing.
A well balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals with reduced fat and cholesterol is always good for people with a disease. People with Sickle Cell Anemia should be extra careful to stay well hydrated.
The digestive system can also be affected by a painful event. The painful event happens when the sickle cells pile up on each other in the veins and red blood cells carrying hemoglobin cannot get past. This causes pain in the organ since it is without oxygen. Increased fluids can help prevent the piling up of the sickle cells by keeping the blood full and flowing.
A well balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals with reduced fat and cholesterol is always good for people with a disease. People with Sickle Cell Anemia should be extra careful to stay well hydrated.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sickle-cell-disease-what-happens
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sickle+cell+disease
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sickle+cell+disease
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/