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Health Moment History
SICKLE CELL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION MONTH
6746 Grasselli Road; Fairfield, AL 35064
       Sickle cell anemia is a serious condition in which the red blood cells can become
sickle-shaped (that is, shaped like a “C”).  Normal red blood cells are smooth and
round like a doughnut without a hole.  They move easily through blood vessels to carry
oxygen to all parts of the body.  Sickle-shaped cells don’t move easily through blood.
They are stiff and sticky and tend to form clumps and get stuck in blood vessels.  The
clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and
organs.  Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections and organ damage.

       Sickle cell anemia is an inherited, lifelong condition.  People who have sickle cell
anemia are born with it.  They inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene, one from each
parent.  People who inherit a sickle cell gene from one parent and a normal gene from
the other parent have a condition called sickle cell trait.

       Sickle cell trait is different from sickle cell anemia.  People with sickle trait don’t
have the condition, but they have of the genes that cause the condition.  Like people
with sickle cell anemia, people with sickle cell trait can pass the gene on when they have
children.  There are excellent treatments for the symptoms and complications of the
condition but there is no cure.