TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SICKLE CELL.

This is a list of ten quick facts you should know about sickle cell.

1. Sickle cell disease is inherited. People are born with it. It‘s not contagious, so you can’t catch it from someone.
2. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong health condition.
3. Sickle cell causes a type of faulty hemoglobin. (Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen)
4. The word “sickle” is not from “sick.” The disease got this name because it causes blood cells to be curved or C-shaped, like the farm tool called a sickle.
   

   Sickle Blood

5. Blood cells are round and look a bit like donuts. Blood cell of Sickle is hardened and curved.
6. Red blood cells of a sickle break down faster than healthy red blood cells.
7. The pain or crisis of sickle is as a result of blood clots or clog of a person’s small blood vessels.
8. Sickle Cell patients live with the crisis, i.e. bouts of excruciating pains that can last for a moment, hours, days, weeks, months or hospitalization.
9. Sickles can have a crisis when exposed to triggers like extreme cold or heat.
10. Sickles are loving people, that didn’t choose this disease but are discriminated for it.

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Audrey Mukoro

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