Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects more than 70,000 Americans.

Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that affects the hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that help carry oxygen throughout the body. It occurs when a person inherits two abnormal genes causing their red blood cells to change shape. Instead of the cells being flexible and disc-shaped, they are curved and resemble the shape of a crescent moon.

Unlike normal red blood cells that last about four months in the bloodstream, fragile sickle cells break down after 10 to 20 days, causing anemia. Anemia is when the body’s number of red blood cells fall below normal. Red blood cells with normal hemoglobin move easily through the bloodstream, delivering oxygen to all the cells of the body. These cells are shaped like discs or doughnuts with the centers partially scooped out and are soft and flexible. Sickle-shape cells are sticky, stiff, and more fragile causing them to form in the sickle shape.

Sickle Cell Anemia is not contagious; no one can catch it by passing by someone. Persons who have sickle cell anemia inherited two sickle cell genes, one from each parent. One who has inherited the sickle cell gene from one parent will not develop the disease, but will carry the trait. Ones who carry the sickle cell trait do not have sickle cell anemia or the symptoms associated with the disease, but can pass the sickle cell trait to their offspring.