health

1 . What accounts for the episodes of severe pain in the extremities and abdomen in a patient with

Sickle-cell anemia

Sickle-cell anemia is a hereditary blood dis , a chronic debilitating disease that affects black people almost exclusively . With this disease , the red blood cells that are normally round transform into crescentic or sickle-shaped cells . This deformation of the blood cells occurs because of the existence of defective hemoglobin , the iron-containing and oxygen-carrying compound in red blood cells . The hooked shape of the red blood cells gives them the tendency to tangle

or clump together , clogging tiny blood vessels and making circulation sluggish . The condition deprives body tissues of oxygen , a necessity for organs ' health . Moreover , the high rate of breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs ) causes anemia : 4 months for normal RBCs vs . 10 to 20 days for sickle RBCs . The disease is marked by fatigue , breathing difficulty extreme illness attacks , and swelling of joints . Bouts of severe pain in the extremities and abdomen are caused by sickle cells obstructing blood flow through blood vessels in such body parts

2 . Briefly describe how the blood forms a clot

Clotting involves a complex chemical events chain . An inactive blood protein fibrinogen is converted into a threadlike sealant fibrin with the aid of a stimulant enzyme thrombin . Thrombin circulates as prothrombin in its inactive state but the latter has to chemically transform into thrombin to initiate clotting , a process necessitating the chemical thromboplastin . Thromboplastin is triggered when a tissue gets injured and thus requires clot protection

3 . What is a bone marrow aspiration test and why is it done

A bone marrow aspiration test offers information on the blood cells status and blood cell production capability . It is ed for blood cell production evaluation , diagnosis of leukemia and bone marrow dis , diagnosis and staging of various types of cancer (by determining cancer 's spread into the marrow , and determination of the cause of severe anemia (whether by a decreased RBC production , abnormal RBC production , increased RBC loss or vitamin /mineral deficiency or excess . This is because the number , maturity and mixture of the cells are affected by the conditions affecting the marrow . A bone marrow aspiration test is a diagnostic procedure for suspected cases of Acute Leukemia , Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia , Aplastic Anemia , Myelodysplastic Syndrome , Multiple Myeloma , Myelofibrosis and Essential Thrombocythemia and severe cases of Anemia , Thrombocytopenia , and Neutropenia . It is a staging procedure in Hodgkin 's and non-Hodgkin 's Lymphomas and Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lungs in the past . Evaluation via culturing may be done in suspected cases of Brucellosis and Typhoid Fever and presence of fever in HIV-AIDS and other immuno-deficient patients . Lastly , it is also advised for cancer-treated persons for therapy response and marrow function evaluation

4 . What is a vaccination and why is it done

Vaccination is a process of body protection against disease with the use of vaccines . Vaccines provide immunity by empowering the body to manufacture antibodies , disease-fighting substances . A vaccine for a particular disease produces...