Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease in which the red blood cells, normally disc-shaped, become crescent shaped. As a result, they function abnormally and cause small blood clots. These clots give rise to recurrent painful episodes called "sickle cell pain crises."

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... Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder that affects hemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. The disorder produces abnormal hemoglobin, which causes the red blood cells to sickle or become crescent-shaped.

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by a low number of red blood cells (anemia), infection, and periodic episodes of pain, usually beginning in early childhood. Symptoms vary from person to person; some people have mild symptoms, while others are frequently hospitalized.

With this disorder, sickle-shaped red blood cells are destroyed rapidly, causing anemia. Anemia can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children. The rapid breakdown of red blood cells may also cause yellowing of the eyes and skin, which are signs of jaundice. Other symptoms of sickle cell anemia occur when the stiff, inflexible sickled red blood cells get stuck in small blood vessels, depriving organs and tissues of oxygen-rich blood. A serious complication of sickle cell anemia is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). Pulmonary hypertension occurs in about one-third of adults with sickle cell disease. ...

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Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms

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Signs and symptoms
... People with sickle cell trait have one gene for the disease. They don''t develop the disease and usually have no signs and symptoms. Approximately one in 12 black Americans has sickle cell trait. Peop...
Source: MayoClinic

Causes
... Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mistake in the gene that tells your body to make hemoglobin — the red, iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin is a component of every red ...
Source: MayoClinic

Sickle Cell Anemia Prevention

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Prevention
... If you carry the sickle cell trait, you may wish to see a genetic counselor before trying to conceive a child. A genetic counselor can help you understand your risk of having a child with sickle cell ...
Source: MayoClinic

Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment

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Complications
... Sickle cell anemia can lead to a host of complications, including: Stroke. A stroke can occur if sickle cells block blood flow to an area of your brain. Stroke is one of the most serious complications...
Source: MayoClinic

Treatment
... Bone marrow transplant offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. But very few people have a suitable donor for transplant. As a result, treatment is usually aimed at avoiding crises, reli...
Source: MayoClinic

Sickle Cell Anemia Support

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Coping skills
... If you or someone in your family has sickle cell anemia, you may need help handling the stresses of coping with this lifelong disease. Your doctor can talk with you about your concerns. Sickle cell ce...
Source: MayoClinic

Sickle Cell Anemia Other

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Sickle Cell Anemia
... What is sickle cell anemia? Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that affects red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are round. In people with sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin – a substance in red blo...
Source: Cleveland Clinic

Sickle Cell Disease
... What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease is a genetic (passed from parent to child) disorder that affects the body’s blood cells. In this disease, faulty hemoglobin (a substance that carries o...
Source: Cleveland Clinic

Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment

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Anemia
... Are you tired and weak? Do the linings of your lower eyelids look pale? If so, you could be anemic. But what does that mean? It means that either your red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin (oxyg...
Source: HealthWorld

Sickle Cell Anemia
... If you''re black, you should know about sickle cell anemia. About 1 in 12 black Americans carries the gene for the sickle cell trait (that is, they have the ability to produce children with sickle cel...
Source: HealthWorld

   

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