Question

EXTRA CREDIT Describe Sickle Cell Anemia. Include the part of the blood cell damaged also why it is so dangerous. (4 pts) Explain why when climbing Mt Everest climbers first spend 3 to 5 days approximately 4 the way up the mountain. (4pts)

Answer 1

Sickle cell anaemia is a haemoglobinopathy where the 6th position of beta globin chain of haemoglobin contains valine instead of glutamate.The patient has anaemia resulting from sickled red blood cell shape. There are two consequences of the sickling of red blood cells

1.Haemolysis leading to anaemia,gall stones,jaundice.

2.Occlusive crisis like chest crisis, priapism,dactylitis,stroke,leg ulcers.

Management includes prevention of sickling crisis by giving hydroxyurea and maintaining good hydration.

Further when presenting with acute painful crisis we have to manage with opioids to releive the pain,fluids and high flow oxygen.

Answer to the second question

This phenomenon is called acclimatization.There are different ways and protocols of doing this for example, when climbing up first 3 to 5 days are spent some distance up to restore physiology relating to high altitude. There are changes in are cardiovascular system, respiratory system , haematological system and renal system. When these physiological changes occur the individual has less chances of suffering from high altitude illnesses like acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary oedema ,high altitude cerebral oedema.