What is Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder. That means it’s passed down through families. You’re born with SCD. It is not something you catch or develop later in life.
The disease gets its name because when you have SCD, your red blood cells look like a sickle, which is a C-shaped farm tool.
Red blood cells contain a molecule called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body. In a healthy person, hemoglobin is smooth, round, and flexible. That allows red blood cells to glide easily through your bloodstream. But if you have SCD, the hemoglobin’s shape is abnormal. It forms rods that clump together. That causes red blood cells to become rigid and curved. The odd-shaped cells block blood flow. It’s dangerous, and can cause extreme pain, anemia, and other symptoms.
About 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease. Most of them are African-Americans.
Sickle cells can travel to any part of your body, causing damage. If they affect your spleen, you may have frequent infections. If they block the blood vessels in your eyes, you can develop vision problems.
Usually, they first appear when a child is about five to six months old. Early signs in babies are:
- Extreme fussiness
- Painful swelling of the hands and feet due to blockage of blood flow. Your doctor may call this “dactylitis.”
- Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (also called jaundice or icterus)
- Trouble breathing
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Fast heart rate
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Pale skin color
- Delayed growth in infants
- Delayed puberty in teens
When your red blood cells get trapped in your vessels, they not only cut off oxygen but can set off bouts of great pain. It’s called a sickle cell crisis.
You might get relief with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Drinking lots of fluids helps, too.
You can also try:
- A heating pad or hot baths
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation
