Understanding Sickle Cell Anemia
Understanding Sickle Cell Anemia By: Alyza Kour Sickle Cell Anemia is a serious inherited blood disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is a type of Sickle Cell Disease in which red blood cells become hard, sticky, and shaped like crescent moons or “sickles.” These abnormal blood cells do not move through blood vessels as easily as healthy, round blood cells, which can lead to pain, fatigue, and other health complications. Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by a genetic mutation that affects hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. A person is born with the disease when they inherit the sickle cell gene from both parents. Because the condition is inherited, it cannot spread from person to person like a virus or infection. The disease affects the body in several ways. Sickled blood cells can block blood flow and reduce oxygen reaching organs and tissues. These cells also break apart more quickly than normal red blood cells...