Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
source: KidsHealth
year: 2018
summary/abstract:Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that’s inherited — meaning it’s passed down from parents to their children. Babies are born with sickle cell disease when they inherit two abnormal genes (one from each parent). These genes cause the body’s red blood cells to change shape.
Normal red blood cells are shaped like discs or donuts with the centers partly scooped out. They are soft and flexible so they can easily move through very small blood vessels and deliver oxygen throughout a person’s body.
Sickle cells are stiffer. Instead of being disc shaped, they’re curved like crescent moons, or an old farm tool known as a sickle. That’s where the disease gets its name.
read moreRelated Content
-
New digital education platform for the SCD communityhttps://www.onescdvoice.com/wp-content/u...
-
Sickle cell trait and sudden deathSickle cell trait has long been consider...
-
Perspectives and practices of athletic trainers and team physicians implementing the 2010 NCAA sickle cell trait scr...Sickle cell trait (SCT) is usually benig...
-
Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois Management of Sickle Cell Disease ConferenceThe Sickle Cell Disease Association of I...
-
Genetic Treatments for Sickle CellFor decades physicians have known that a...
-
Sickle Options Video Libraryhttp://sickleoptions.org/en_US/video-lib...
-
Sisterly bond behind sickle-cell curehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S-xVGsR...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.