Why You Should Know About Sickle Cell Disease
According to the White House, approximately 72,000 Americans are living with Sickle Cell Disease and 2 million Americans carry the genetic trait for the disease. As the most commonly inherited blood disorder in the United States, it’s time to raise awareness. There’s no better time than September to do so, as September is deemed Sickle Cell Disease Awareness month.
When diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, red blood cells become curved, causing the cells to pass through blood vessels easily and carrying oxygen throughout the body. Curved blood cells can get stuck, block blood vessels and can prevent oxygen from getting through. Sickle Cell Disease can cause many long term and short term issues. To learn more about side effects, read here.
The most common side effect results in anemia. Getting tested and encouraging others to get tested for Sickle Cell Anemia is important, to stay ahead of such diseases. Normal results show no Hemoglobin S, the most common type of abnormal hemoglobin suggesting Sickle Cell Disease, in the blood. High results suggest a trait of Sickle Cell Disease or the actual disease.
To learn more about Sickle Cell Disease, visit http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/.
Know the Facts About Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease affects millions of people worldwide and is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States affecting 70,000 to 80,000 Americans. Alarmingly, 1 in every 500 African-Americans are born with sickle cell disease. With such an alarming statistic, it is important to be aware of the disease and its symptoms.
Sickle Cell Disease is a disorder that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. With this disorder, people have abnormal hemoglobin molecules which distort red blood cells into a sickle shape. Symptoms of sickle cell disease vary from person to person. Although the presence of the disease is often caught at a young age, some people have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed.
If you feel as though you or a loved one might be experiencing one or more of the symptoms of sickle cell disease come into our office for a sickle cell screen, especially if you are an athlete with an upcoming season. Symptoms of the disorder can become severe and lead to hospitalization and even death. As the most common blood disorder, it is important to get tested and know for sure.
The only known cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant. These transplants are reliant on individual donations.
“Tiffany needed a transplant to beat sickle cell. After a two- year search, she found a donor and her life was saved!”
Many stories like Tiffany’s are found thanks to the donation of bone marrow from individuals.Want to help the cause and donate? At Any Lab Test Now, we have a partnership with Delete Blood Cancer. Donating bone marrow has become easier than ever with Delete Blood Cancer and similar organizations. Take a look at how simple it can be and find a location here.
