SEPTEMBER: National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.  Sickle Cell is a debilitating disease affecting approximately 100,000 Americans.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births.

• Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.

• About 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects the body’s red blood cells. It occurs when a child receives two sickle cell genes—one from each parent. In someone living with this disease, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”.

When sickled red blood cells travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. The pain experienced by people living with sickle cell disease can vary in intensity and last for a few hours to a few weeks.